I've been violated.

[Doreen Peri]

Do not keep your identity in your wallet.

Someone has stolen me and I am angry and hurt and very upset.

I've been violated.

I want to hunt them down and kill them.

[stilltrucking]

Virginia got sued a few years ago because they use social security numbers as driver license numbers. I am not sure if they are still doing that. With a social security number they can steal your face right off your head. Dam I am sorry to here about it Doreen. I wish there was something I could do. I am still trying to figure out Lenny’s tag line.

None of us ever gets anything we don't either need or deserve. Dry those liquid emotions and move on

.

Maybe there is an upside to it? I don't see one right now but maybe it work out for the best. Are you sure it was stolen? Maybe you just misplaced it. I do that a couple times a day.

[Arcadia]

Once someone stole me a purse with D.N.I, agenda, keys, wallet and Cortazar's book Bestiario. I felt paranoid for some weeks. But all things pass.

[Marksman45]

One time someone got the number of my check card somehow and stole $4,000 from me. I later got most of it back, though.

[Doreen Peri]

I spent 3 hours at the DMV today getting my drivers license replaced. (and no, I don't have my SS # on my drivers license, 'truckin', but some people in virginia still do. They can have it that way if they want it that way.) The 2 credit cards are stopped. The thieves attempted to purchase $1700 worth of merchandise. Luckily, I don't use my credit cards very often so this was a red flag to the credit card company which denied the charges and immediately notified me from their fraud division.

My greatest worry is that my SS card was also in the wallet. I can't find it. With my drivers license and my good credit history and my SS#, they can easily become me by getting new credit in my name billed to a different address. They could ruin my credit quite quickly.

I'm hoping they tossed the whole wallet except the credit cards and when they found out they couldn't use them gave up on that, too, and this will be the end of it. (well, after I replace all of my documents and cards anyway)

I was standing outside smoking a cigarette last night and all of a sudden it hit me. I remembered something very odd that happened at the grocery store.

A man approached me while I was selecting oranges and proceeded to ask me several questions about the oranges. Which type were sweetest? How did I know? Which are the best oranges? Why do I choose the oranges I choose. I thought it odd but answered his questions then very quickly, he split. He looked at me and said, "Gotta run out and get my wife. She's in the car. She's the one who makes decisions like these" and he was gone. He practically ran outa there.

I suspect it was a team job. His job was to get my attention ... to distract me ... while his partner lifted my wallet from my purse which was sitting on the fold-out child seat part of the cart. The cart was right next to me but my attention was directed to the oranges and to answering his questions. I bet all of that is on tape. There are cameras in there.

When I got up to the counter, I never would have noticed my wallet was missing had I not wanted to write a check on a different account than I normally do which required them to ask for my drivers license. No wallet. No license. I was worried. I wrote a check on the account I always do and came home to look for my wallet.

Within 10 minutes, the fraud dept of my credit card company called and told me about the attempted purchases. Then, I called the police and made a police report. The police told me that several other incidents of people having their wallets snatched at that particular grocery store had recently happened.

It wasn't until later that I remembered the man who asked questions about the oranges. He and a partner are the thieves. I'm convinced of it.

Anyway, thanks for your comments 'truckin, arcadia and mars!

I appreciate the supportive words.... I know things will work out (at least if someone doesn't steal my identity)... and I'm moving forward to get it resolved. I have another call into the police to tell them about the oranges.

Glad you all got your situations straightened out!

[Doreen Peri]

so they took my photo today and here's how it came out

now i can drive again

[abcrystcats]

Well, if it's any consolation, you look great, EVEN in a DMV photo, and THAT takes some LOOKS!

Yeah, that shoplifting story sound pretty amazing. Where were you when this happened? Just a normal supermarket? Was it in a busy area of a city, or just your average middle class type place?

That's the kind of thing I would expect in an inner city or in a tourist town. We were told to keep our money in an unusual place and keep our wits about us in Barcelona because of the pickpockets. I was lucky and never got victimized -- but I sure wouldn't have been on my guard in my local supermarket!

Those two had it all planned out ... that's what so incredible to me about it. They had a system.

[Ann Bingham]

A friend of my recently had her identity stolen by, of all people, her sister. Has taken her nearly a year to clear it up, and traveling to Connecticut to sort it all out in court.

what really pisses me off about identity theft is that the one who's identity has been stolen is the one who has to pay. The perpetrator gets off with just a slap on the wrist, so to speak. They don't have to be hounded by credit agencies to pay off something they stole from someone. The laws governing identity theft really need to become more stringent.

I am so sorry for what has happened to you Doreen, you are such a sweet person and did not deserve this to happen to you.

love lots
Deb.

[judih]

But, Do, if the store has cameras, then they can catch the thieves. (or did you say they've already started the process of prosecuting them after their attempt at credit card theft?)

In any case, life begins anew. Hopefully we've all learned to keep ourselves on guard after hearing your tale. (at least till the next scam comes along - ah, humanity! where would we be without the thieves and con artists? where? wish i knew...)

[Doreen Peri]

Cat - It was a popular suburban grocery store which recently had a management change and is now often understaffed. Checkout jobs have been replaced with automatic tellers, for instance. I have a tough time finding someone to help me at the cigarette counter (yeah, I know, maybe that's a good thing! ) When it dawned on me exactly what probably happened, it was like a big light went off in my head! I am certain this is what happened! Thanks for the kind words about my mug shot. I'm just me, that's all. 3 hours at the DMV... I was soooo relieved to finally have a DL in hand!

Ann- Geezzz... someone stole her sister's identity? That's just really sad! Yeah, it's a lotta work for the victim, alright... and I'm just getting started. I have much more to do. What I thought was really strange was that I called the DMV to find out what I needed to bring to prove I was me to get a replacement license. They told me to bring my birth certificate, my w-2 form to prove my ss #, my marriage certificate to prove my current name, and a bank statement or bill to prove my address. I brought all of those documents with me but the only one they looked at was my birth certificate which has my maiden name on it. They didn't even glance at the other documents but the gave me a replacement license and took a new photo of me. So... that tells me that it's very dangerous to misplace your birth certificate. With JUST a birth certificate, looks like someone can claim a person's identity. Anybody could have walked in there with my birth certificate and gotten a license with their own photo on it and my name. Very disturbing!

judih - I have a call into the police officer to let him know I think I know exactly when it happened. I'd probably also be able to identify this fellow. I remember his face quite well. I have also contacted the grocery store and have an appointment to bring my police report and info about what I think happened so they will look at the surveillance tape.

And yeah, there are lessons here for all.

1- First, never put your SS card in your wallet. I HOPE mine wasn't in there. I can't find it, though, and need to replace it. With my license and SS #, someone can apply for new credit at a different address and I wouldn't know about it.

2- When at a public place, keep your purse or wallet ON you at all times. Never leave it unattended even when it's right next to you. It only takes a moment for someone to grab it when your head is turned.

3- Keep records at home of your drivers license #, all credit card #'s and any other important documents you carry with you. Best not to carry much. JUST your license is enough! (I was lucky that red flags went up about the attempted charges on my credit cards. The only reason that happened is because I rarely use them. I only use them for emergency purposes. So why do I carry them with me? I should have left them home.)

4- Be very aware of your surroundings. Keep your eyes open 'cause there are vultures out there just waiting to get ya!

5- Every few months pay for a copy of your credit reports to make sure there isn't any suspicious activity going on. Currently, as a US citizen you get one free report a year. But that's not enough. Request your reports at least quarterly.

I can't think of any other lessons at the moment, but I know there are more which will come to mind.

--------

Thanks to all for your support in response to this drama.

I really do feel very violated.

[lenny]

Man, (or I suppose I should say 'woman' - man with a womb!) I'm really sorry to hear that. People can be so callous and cold. I cannot imagine deliberately trying to hurt someone else. It just seems so weird that people can think like that. I hope it all works out for you Doreen. Take care and hope to see you guys again soon. I had a bit of trauma myself today - wrecked my truck and spent six hours in the emergency room, but more about that in another thread. I don't want to hijack your thread.

Be well and my best to that rascal LR! Wink.

lenny