I just had one of the things I've been dreading most happen to me. But on the upside...God was looking out for me last Thursday. It all started because of some random phone calls. A man named Gregory Wells apparently has been giving out my cell phone number over the last year as his contact  number. I've had the number for over 5 years. It has become a joke. The collection agencies looking for him are always very apologetic but it is quite a nuisance.

Anyway, I was joking on the phone with my mother about it last Thursday morning. When I got off the phone, I started to think about how easy it was to give out other people's information. And that was when I decided I was about 6 months overdue in checking my annual free credit reports. My husband and I had actually been remarking how we needed to check our credit reports for the last few months. I went to the website: www.annualcreditreport.com and downloaded my first report from Equifax. Everything seemed okay. I was feeling sorry for my son for plopping him in front of the T.V., and debated holding off on Transunion and Experian but then thought better of it and clicked on the Transunion link. When I tried to get the report, the site said I needed to call and verify who I was. While speaking to a representative, the lady asked, "Are you in Milwaukee, WI?" I said emphatically "No...never...Is that on my credit report?" She said "no" and told me I would be able to get into the site online in about 5-10 minutes. Now I was really curious.

After a few minutes I logged into Transunion and found a Milwaukee address that was just reported in August 2008, as well as a new Sears credit card account. I started to panic. I then downloaded the Experian report and it was on there too. Apparently someone had used my first and middle name with a DIFFERENT last name. I hoped it was a mistake. I called the fraud number at Sears and the lady said this person opened the account with my SS#. My heart sunk. It already was sounding like an inside job. This woman passed some "pre-approval," and spent $3000. When Sears actually tried to verify who she was, she was not passing the verification. Sears immediately shut down the card, but then I had a lot of work to do.

After 4 hours on the phone and computer, with my little boy in front of the T.V., I dragged him to the police station to file a police report in my town, with the promise of going to Burger King afterwards. I then returned home and went on-line to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. I also ordered a Social Security Report. The following day, I went to sign up for our bank's credit monitoring service for $11.99/month. After what I went through, I'd rather have that than cable.

And now, I wait. I have a case number with the credit card company for the credit card that I DIDN'T open. I have a case number with the police department. I have a case number with the FTC. I have frozen all my credit for now. and I have set up an alert system at the bank. I hope Sears/Citibank can find the person who did this. They say they will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. But I'm still having bad dreams.

On a side note...who spends $3000 at Sears unless they're buying appliances? Wouldn't these have to be delivered? Can't they find this person?  It's a little strange that I would open another Citibank card at the same time. And how can they let someone be preapproved for a card, let them spend $3000 in one day, and the last name does not even match the SS#?

UPDATE #1:

I have to say, I'm very impressed by the Police Dept. in our town/suburb. The Detective on my case (yes--I have a  case) did a lot of leg-work. Apparently Sears was not a lot of help. They had no video nor any recollection of this woman opening an account. A bank in Milwaukee did, however, have a video of this woman and a man (in a car with IL license plates) using the Sears card to take out cash. The woman was also STUPID enough to use the card to pay off Milwaukee Court fees. Of course, when the court was notified, they didn't care. They just want the money. But it is not just Sears who is out over $3000. I have spent countless hours on this case, as well as $11.99/month to monitor my credit through my bank. And these people have most likely moved on to the next victim. I even know the woman's name, and it is taking everything I have not to post a big BLOG on the internet exposing her. But then, she probably doesn't use the internet. I'm still hoping they can catch her and keep her and her friend from victimizing someone else. I know it's a longshot, but you have to have hope.

UPDATE #2: I am so thrilled. The Detective in my town called me today and said they actually have a suspect in my identity theft case...A man who lives on S. Indiana in Chicago.  He called to let me know that if he is able to get a look at this guy and match him to the photo at the ATM in Milwaukee, he may be able to prosecute. He asked if I would be "on-board" with filing a complaint, and of course I said "yes." We still don't know how he obtained my social security number, though. My goal now is to protect myself, my family, and let as many people know that they need to be checking their credit reports AT LEAST once a year!