Can anyone advise me on what steps to take to protect my credit? My wallet, containing my social security card as well as my driver's license, was stolen two nights ago at Barnes and Noble. The thief made a series of charges on my credit card account. I've made a police report, closed all credit accounts, filled out bank affidavits of fraud etc., but am worred about identity fraud. With a social security number, a criminal can open a credit card account in another person's name and charge it to the limit.

I have been advised that I should contact the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, Trans Union), and have already sent written notification to all three, asking that a fraud alert be put on my credit report. I wonder if there are any other steps that I can or should take. Has anyone else been through this?

The thief will most likely put a false photo on your driver's license and impersonate you at banks. With a social security card, they may be able to open an account and overdraw it immediately. It will be done at remote locations where no one could know you. That's the bank's problem, but they'll still try to go after you. You can go to the DMV and get a NEW driver's license. Not a copy, but a new one with a new number. You'll need the police report and either a bank or credit card report of fraud. They won't just give you a new number unless you can show fraud. But that's what you need to prevent them using your driver's license as an ID. Call the DMV first and check on it.

Contact social security to check on your account there also. I'm sure they have some steps for you to take (didn't have my social card stolen).

You did the right thing in alerting the credit bureaus. You'll need to be prepared to have your own, legitimate requests for credit rejected because the credit bureaus are not completely efficient and neither are banks, stores etc. It will take some doing to get credit (even for a mortgage).

Be sure to carry with you copies of all the police reports and any bank/credit statements saying accounts are closed because if the thief perpetrates fraud with your name, YOU could be arrested (eg during a traffic stop when they check you out for outstanding warrants).

This can go on for several years. Be diligent and you'll win (I did get my $5,000 back!).

My sister had her purse stollen 2 years ago fro a restuarant at
Jack London Square and is STILL dealing with it.  If you are lucky, your
wallet was stollen by a small time thief and not someone working for a
major ring.  Below is a list of some steps that you can take:

* You will need to contact ALL three credit services and ask that a note
be added to your record indicating the theft and that all new credit
applications need to be verified with a phone call to you.  This will help
if the business actually contacts the credit services before issuing
credit. You may also want to inquire if you can add a password or
something in the event that you find yourself at a store trying to open
credit.  You can't very well be at home to receive an authorisation call
in such an instance.  Unfortunately, such companies as Target, Mervyn's,
Speigel's, most mail order catalogs and so-called discounted stores may
not check with the credit agengie before offering instant credit.

*  You should get copies of your credit report from all three agencies
about every three months to check on who's been making inquiries into your
account and who has issued credit.  Contact these people and inform them
of the fraud.  If any charges were made against the new credit account,
ask the credit issuer if they would be willing to write a letter detailing
the fraud.  Make sure they include the driver's license number that was
used for verification.  You will need this to prove fraud to the DMV
before they will seal your old license number and issue a brand new one.

*  You will need to request DMV records since they can now get
insurance under your name and license number.

*   Since they also have your social security number, you will need to
check your social security account frequently to see if they have used it 
to obtain work.  For my sister this was easy since she is a teacher and 
has not contributed to SS for nearly 10 years.

*   When you do get your credit reports, ask that any address/es that
was/were used to have new credit cards and merchandise sent to, be removed
from your reports.  Too many addresses make you look unstable and prone to
move around a lot.  This could be used against you when you legitimately
want to apply for credit such as for a mortgage.

* Remember to be vigilant with your credit reports.  Any bad reports made
for none payment or for overdue accounts that were open fraudently must be
removed from your report.  If the credit reporting agencies refuse, at the
very least, make sure they annotate the record as an account that was
fraudulently opened and used.  (So far my sister has been very lucky in
having all negative reports removed.)

*   If you had a check stolen, close your account and ask that a note be
placed indicating the reason for the closure.  If you have outstanding
checks out, you will need to leave some funds to cover those checks.  If
the thief decides to have new checks printed (as they did with my sister)
be prepared for nasty, threatening letters demanding payment.

* Make and keep very many copies of the police report, letters from the
credit reporting agencies, DMV confirming the theft.  You will want to
keep a file of all of the letters that you receive regarding fraudulent
use of your credit.  Better yet, keep a separate file for each account
which includes all of the information--when you sent them your
information, their response, etc.  A good idea is to maintain a calendar
of the theft and the activites against your accounts, dates when credit
was issued, dates when you sent letters explaining the situation, dates
when you will need to request credit reports.  If you do, you may see if
and when the activity tapers off.

*  As difficult as all of this sounds, you will need to be organised and
proactive.  The police, while they may be very sympathetic, will do
precious little.  They will not prosecute for fraud unless the credit card
companies and the merchants who were ripped-off press charges.  Although
it is your credit that it is at risk, from the police point of view, it is
the credit card companies and merchants--and not YOU-- that are the
victims of fraud.  Unfortunatly, most credit card companies and merchants
just write off the loss since they write if off their taxes or may be
reimbursed by their insurance.

*  Finally, take a deep breath and try to relax.  Hopefully, your
situation will not be as bad as my sister's.  But do brace yourself--you
may receive threatening letters from attorneys demanding payment.
Remember, under the law you are not liable for more than $50.00 of
fraudulent charges if you report the theft within three days of the
occurance--which you have done already.  And most credit card companies 
do not even pursue the $50.00.  Unfortunately, you may have to remind some
of these people that you are the victim.

Good luck.  I hope this has helped and not frightened you more.  I can
greatly sympathesize, especially after watching my sister and
mother-in-law deal with it simultaneously.  

The following happened to me recently, and I thought it would be worth posting to this list in light of past postings regarding peeping toms and men trying to break into homes. About 5:45PM recently, a man came to my door and knocked. I saw him through the peephole, didn't recognize him, and asked who it was. He replied, "the phone company". I was immediately suspicious because a) he used a generic name for the company; b) we hadn't called Pac Bell; and c) he wasn't wearing a uniform. There was also no sign of a utility truck anywhere. I demanded to see his ID. He said he didn't have any on him. I asked him what he wanted; he muttered something about waiting for me outside, and then left.

10 minutes later I left to pick up my son. I checked the neighborhood for utility trucks and saw none. When I got back with my son, I decided to call Pac Bell. I couldn't reach a person to speak to and noticed that their customer service office closes at 5:30. I then called the Berkeley police, partly to find out if there had been similar incidents that evening, but also to document the encounter. The police, and then my husband when he heard about it, said I should have called the police right away, in case the guy was still in the neighborhood and could be questioned. He could have been in the neighborhood on legitimate business of some sort, and just happened to notice a lone woman getting out of her car and going into the house, and saw an opportunity.

There are three reasons I'm writing this: 1. To let people know that the Berkeley police are willing to follow up on well-founded suspicions, even if no crime was actually committed.
2. To let women who haven't heard of this type of attempted crime know of this type of pretense for entering homes. Arriving after a business's closing hours is part of the tactics--you can't call the company to find out if they're who they say they are.
3. To advise the woman who wanted to move from her apartment in Oakland that no place in Berkeley is safe from people trying to break in. In her case, I'd advise her that no matter where she lives, she should make sure her door has a strong lock and peephole at her height. (When we moved in, we installed a second peephole after I complained about the height of the original one).

Other advice: All utility company workers and city workers carry ID -- or at least they should. Always ask to see their ID if you have any reason for suspicion (eg, if they show up unexpected). If they won't show ID and they don't look like they're from where they claim .... don't bother calling the company in question, just call the police (just the regular number, not 911 unless there's a crime in progress).