We have become victims of identity theft in August. It all happened within a week.
It first started when my fiancee and I both received mails from UPS and FedEX stating our user names for their online delivery management (which we never set up). I was busy at the time and did not give it much thought for a few days.
When a package from Nordstrom was supposed to be delivered but never showed up, I called Nordstrom. The rep told me I had instructed UPS to forward all packages to a local UPS store. When I rushed there and showed them my ID, I received 3 additional packages of stuff (from NewEgg) I never ordered but were addressed to me. The UPS clerk also said a Hispanic guy (claimed to be my roommate) in his 30s showed up the prior day to attempt to pick up all the packages under my name. He was turned away as he wasn't able to produce an ID (they don't check ID all the time).
Things started to make sense when I was getting text from Chase Fraud protection of someone trying to charge $2,600 in a Best buy store on my card. I also received a bill from Paypal credit card (which I never applied) within the next week for all the NewEgg stuff I never ordered. He maxed out the fraudulent account opened under my name.
My fiancee had similar things happened as well as he received two bills (one from Game Stop for $2,600 and another from Paypal for $3,000). We don't know where the stuff ordered in his name was routed to but was able to close those accounts without having to pay for anything we did not order.
We filed police reports but the detective said she could not find any leads. We were told to keep our information as protected as possible (which we already did).
I had my credit frozen afterwards and all fraudulent UPS/FedEx accounts closed. I also removed a lot of my personal information online (whitepages.com/ instantcheckmatecom/ intellius.com/ BeVerified.com). People can easily find out where my DOB/work place/address with a simple click. I am sure my SS can be easily found as well.
My question is the following:
Is there anyway to have your personal information not publicly available? Currently, someone can just pay $1 to buy anyone's background information.
I don't plan on unfreezing my credit soon but need to know how to keep my information private if I do unfreeze my credit in the future.
Thanks for any feedback.
It first started when my fiancee and I both received mails from UPS and FedEX stating our user names for their online delivery management (which we never set up). I was busy at the time and did not give it much thought for a few days.
When a package from Nordstrom was supposed to be delivered but never showed up, I called Nordstrom. The rep told me I had instructed UPS to forward all packages to a local UPS store. When I rushed there and showed them my ID, I received 3 additional packages of stuff (from NewEgg) I never ordered but were addressed to me. The UPS clerk also said a Hispanic guy (claimed to be my roommate) in his 30s showed up the prior day to attempt to pick up all the packages under my name. He was turned away as he wasn't able to produce an ID (they don't check ID all the time).
Things started to make sense when I was getting text from Chase Fraud protection of someone trying to charge $2,600 in a Best buy store on my card. I also received a bill from Paypal credit card (which I never applied) within the next week for all the NewEgg stuff I never ordered. He maxed out the fraudulent account opened under my name.
My fiancee had similar things happened as well as he received two bills (one from Game Stop for $2,600 and another from Paypal for $3,000). We don't know where the stuff ordered in his name was routed to but was able to close those accounts without having to pay for anything we did not order.
We filed police reports but the detective said she could not find any leads. We were told to keep our information as protected as possible (which we already did).
I had my credit frozen afterwards and all fraudulent UPS/FedEx accounts closed. I also removed a lot of my personal information online (whitepages.com/ instantcheckmatecom/ intellius.com/ BeVerified.com). People can easily find out where my DOB/work place/address with a simple click. I am sure my SS can be easily found as well.
My question is the following:
Is there anyway to have your personal information not publicly available? Currently, someone can just pay $1 to buy anyone's background information.
I don't plan on unfreezing my credit soon but need to know how to keep my information private if I do unfreeze my credit in the future.
Thanks for any feedback.
Identity Theft