Welcome home gift: STOLEN CREDIT CARD !!!

I can't even tell you how this whole ordeal has really tested my limits...

In a nutshell: I go away for 2 weeks. I come home and find lots of c r a p in the mail that I did not order. It is sent to my house under my name and address (learning tapes, diet pills, children books, netflix,etc). My mail was held at the post office for 2 weeks. while I was away.

I get a fraud alert phone call from the CC company. I cancel my account. I flag myself with the national creditors (experian, etc). I call each company and cancel the accounts this person has opened.

This card that was stolen never left the house in MONTHS. I only use it online for ebay,paypal,etc. Each company said that they would need the 3 digit code from the back of my card in order to use it online.

What I DON'T understand...
1) Why they would use my card and order stuff TO my house.
2) Why they ordered me 100 vistaprint business cards and took the time to fill out my name, address, phone number and email account
3) HOW they got my number through the computer
4) Why they made 20 very small charges no larger than $100 at the apple itunes store
5)Why my name and phone number is on every scamming companys call list...I am getting calls from all these companies that when I punch their phone number online (ie: Omnipresent, Inc) I find that they are scamming companies...HOW DID I GET ON THEIR LIST??????
6) why this all took place when I was away on vacaton.


Can anyone weigh in on this whole ordeal? I really don't know what to do at this point...and I am really paranoid now.

Message edited 5/18/2008 1:45:45 AM.

Re: Welcome home gift: STOLEN CREDIT CARD !!!

You need to bring whatever documentation you have and file a police report.

I just found out recently someone used my info to purchase cell phones..so I know a bit about this stuff.

Once you file the police report, you can mail it in to the credit bureau and ask for an extended alert (goes on your credit report for 7 years).

Also, I use this product now, which emails me whenever something on my credit reports change...it is amazing.

Equifax Credit Report control with 3 in 1 monitoring...with credit report lock out. You can lock your credit report so no creditors can pull it and new accts cannot be established.
http://www.equifax.com/credit-report-lock/

I don't know anything about these scamming companies, my only issue was the purchase of cell phones under my info. This is really getting out of control with this identity theft. I am sorry you have to deal with this!

Also you need to remove yourself from any lists that offer preapproved lines of credit. You can permenently remove yourself if you mail the form in... and this will also take you off many mailing lists.
https://www.optoutprescreen.com/?rf=t

Of course, cancel the credit card that they are using or get a new card # and put a password on the acct.

Why were they mailing stuff to your house? They might have been novices and didn't realize to change your address on the orders. Lucky for you they came to you so that you now know and can do something about it. Or can it be someone you know playing a horrible game with you?

Message edited 5/18/2008 2:00:56 AM.

Re: Welcome home gift: STOLEN CREDIT CARD !!!

I don't know what to do but I just wanted to offer you lots of and