“Why Can’t I Be Fraud Monitoring?” “Because You are Fat and You Lost to Denver.”

I love shredding. Love it. I bought a shredder a few months ago and I shred anything that has my name or address on it before it goes out the door. Credit card applications, old bills, Value Pak Coupons, the address label on my New Yorker; all going into the bite of that monster’s teeth. I find it very soothing.
Despite these precautions, I was recently the victim of identity theft, or “fraud” as they used to call it back in the day. Someone purchases a single item with a copy of my debit card at a Duane Reade deep in Brooklyn for $611. So now there are many mysteries:
– How did someone use my debit card when it is still safely chained to my belt in my wallet?
– What on earth costs $611 at the Duane Reade?
– How is it the even my money can’t avoid going to Brooklyn?

Please put your theories (particularly to #1 and #2) in the comments.

After I registered a fraud watch with the major credit report companies, I received several emails that appeared to be from my bank, claiming that they noticed an error on my account. These are LIES. It’s called PHISHING. Never ever trust an email from any bank, Pay Pal, eBay, or anything at all that asks you to click a link and enter your login or any information. They do it by using domain names similar to the real company’s (i.e. http://ebay.FRAUDULENT_DOMAIN.com). eBay users are particularly vulnerable. Basically, follow these two rules:
1.) Never follow a link in an email, rather..
2.) If you have questions with your eBay or PayPal account, type “ebay.com” or “paypal.com” in your browser and login there. You can access any alerts or bills by logging in from the front page.

These tips are for mothers everywhere.

…

Site of the Day: Think you are the victim of identity theft, go here: Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft immediately and follow the instructions. You can’t close the barn door after the horse is gone, but you can keep the remaining animals locked up.

Want to prevent identity thefy? Get a shredder and enjoy the rendering like I do. Also, try these tips from our friends at the AARP.

I love shredding. Love it. I bought a shredder a few months ago and I shred anything that has my name or address on it before it goes out the door. Credit card applications, old bills, Value Pak Coupons, the address label on my New Yorker; all going into the bite of that monster’s teeth. I find it very soothing.

Despite these precautions, I was recently the victim of identity theft, or “fraud” as they used to call it back in the day. Someone purchases a single item with a copy of my debit card at a Duane Reade deep in Brooklyn for $611. So now there are many mysteries:
– How did someone use my debit card when it is still safely chained to my belt in my wallet?
– What on earth costs $611 at the Duane Reade?
– How is it the even my money can’t avoid going to Brooklyn?

Please put your theories (particularly to #1 and #2) in the comments.

After I registered a fraud watch with the major credit report companies, I received several emails that appeared to be from my bank, claiming that they noticed an error on my account. These are LIES. It’s called PHISHING. Never ever trust an email from any bank, Pay Pal, eBay, or anything at all that asks you to click a link and enter your login or any information. They do it by using domain names similar to the real company’s (i.e. http://ebay.FRAUDULENT_DOMAIN.com). eBay users are particularly vulnerable. Basically, follow these two rules:
1.) Never follow a link in an email, rather..
2.) If you have questions with your eBay or PayPal account, type “ebay.com” or “paypal.com” in your browser and login there. You can access any alerts or bills by logging in from the front page.

These tips are for mothers everywhere.

…

Site of the Day: Think you are the victim of identity theft, go here: Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft immediately and follow the instructions. You can’t close the barn door after the horse is gone, but you can keep the remaining animals locked up.

Want to prevent identity thefy? Get a shredder and enjoy the rendering like I do. Also, try these tips from our friends at the AARP.