So, yesterday, in the wee morning hours, I was doing some online banking. It’s my favorite time to do this, because the house is quiet and I can think without being interrupted. My plan was to get in and get out, do my daily checking of the accounts and then get to bed.
Imagine my surprise when something jumped out at me. There it was: on one of my checking accounts, an unauthorized charge. First of all, I knew something was wrong, because this was an account I don’t even really use anymore. I keep it open as a back-up, and it’s a valid account, but it’s not the main one we use.
My mind started racing. I can count on one finger the number of actual real checks I write on a monthly basis, and I’m really careful to do that out of the proper check book. As I’m clicking on the handy little online image of the cancelled check, I’m frantically trying to piece this all together. How did this happen? This charge amount makes no sense! What could it be?
The scanned copy of the check is really hard to read and looks totally fake, and I waste no time in calling the contact number for the bank. Will they be open!? How can I sleep if they’re not open!? Why do I do my online banking in the wee morning hours!? I’m zooming in on the check-image when a representative gets on the line.
A live person is really there! Yay!
I’m trying to remain calm, but I can’t stop shaking. How did this happen? We cross-shred every piece of paper that leaves this house if it has any identifiable information on it. We’re very careful with the information we share online and never enter information into non-secure websites (I ALWAYS look for the little s after the http…_) Not to mention, I haven’t actually used this account in years, and I’ve NEVER used it online.
The representative could read the company name on the check and the phone number. It was indeed, a fraud. Someone had used my information without my knowledge or consent.
I couldn’t breath.
I started to panic but then I got myself under control. We’d caught it. Whatever was going on, we’re aware of it now.
Her voice was so calm and reassuring. She was so business-like and took charge of the situation. She called the number with me on the line. I nearly laughed out loud when I was told what the charges were actually for. Without going into some fun googleable descriptions, let’s just say that I am an “adult,” but I don’t find this particular situation to be a very enjoyable form of “entertainment.” 
*ahem*
Of course, the place we’d called “was just a billing agency.” But they would cancel the charges (or something like that), and either way, the bank was doing their own investigation. Hopefully, all the charges to my account will be refunded and we can put this mess behind us.
*fingers crossed*
In the meantime, my account is frozen and I’m being issued another one. It’s a good thing I have another one to use in the meantime! I called all of the Credit Bureau Agencies to issue a Fraud Alert on my social security number. An investigation has been launched, and there’s not much more I can do.
Just to add insult to injury, I’m not sure how I could have prevented all this.
I mean…I’m already vigilant with our accounts. I already shred every piece of documentation we no longer need. Our home networks are secure. Nearly every statement we get is online and encrypted, so that people can’t steal them from the postal mail. The same goes for “real” checks. All of our monthly bills are paid online and through a different account.
And, it just doesn’t even make sense. The funniest thing about it is that they got my name spelled right on the fake check. NO ONE spells my name right.
Leave it to the criminals… 
I did a search on Google while on the phone with the representative, and I’m not the only one who has fallen victim to this company. I’m not going to share the name right now until the investigation is over, but if you’re curious, leave me a comment and I’ll email the info to you.
I just feel so violated.
It could have been a lot worse. The charges were relatively small…but still. I feel like I’ve done what I can do to protect myself and this *still* happened.
It gives me some comfort knowing that however this happened was probably just computer generated. I really doubt a real person singled me out.
But I can’t help but wonder.
And, how ironic is it that I just posted about keeping my identity veiled! If I wasn’t such a big fan of irony, I’d be pretty upset.
So…what can you do?
Utilize your state’s free credit report program if they have one. (We do that once a year.)
Double-check your online accounts item by item. (I already do that nearly every day – every other day if I’m super busy. I’m having trouble not checking them every 30-minutes now.)
Contact the Credit Bureaus to put a Fraud Alert on your credit report if you suspect any foul play. (Been there, done that. It’s actually a really quick process.)
For your convenience, should you find yourself in this situation, here is the contact information you will need. (Each one says they’ll alert the other, but I’m too much of a perfectionist to just sit around and hope that happens. And, if you don’t think I have a paper-trail indicating the time and dates of everything regarding this entire mess, you’d be sadly mistaken. I’m sorry. Something about having my account information breached squashes the casual right out of my perfectionism.)
Credit Bureau Fraud Departments
TransUnion
800-680-7289
Website
Equifax
800-525-6285
Website
Experian
888-397-3742 (just rang and rang, so I did it online)
Website
I just have to continue to be vigilant, take a deep breath, and get on with my day. Everything will work out, and I’m just hoping that this will all be rectified soon. In fact, just writing about this has made me calmer already!
I’m a pretty optimistic and positive person most of the time, but I’ve never been an “oh, that really can’t happen to me” kinda gal. I really do try to expect the best, but I keep a plan to handle the worst in my back pocket.
I just hate having to use it.
sent to your Email
Scary — good thing you’re so vigilant. I imagine with small charges they’re probably getting away with this all the time because not everyone takes note of this stuff, right?
I think that’s the case. It’s purely a numbers game. If 25 people ignore a $40 charge, the schemers have an extra $1,000 to play with…and it just goes up from there!
I’m glad you found the fraudulent charges. I do keep track of my account, but probably not as vigilently as I should. It seems like just a matter a time until each person’s account is targetted in some way – but the fact that it’s so common, I think banks are pretty equipped to deal with it. I can only imagine the financial loss due to fraud – recuperating the money from each charge is hardly worth the effort.
If you have an account that isn’t being used regularly these parasites look for that. Then they hope it’s some time before anyone notices a bad charge.
AT my local bank I asked them for an old fashioned account that can’t be accesed from the internet. They told me that wasn’t possible but after getting al the way up to head office it came back that in fact accounts were still available where the only acceptable entree was with a signed piece of paper. Either a check or a deposit/withdrawal slip. I use one for sort of a long term savings account and do all my bill paying an normal banking from a “normal” account. At least here in Ontario the onus is then on the bank to confirm a signature before the dispers money from the account.
That’s rotten that you have to go through this. It’s a good heads-up for me now, too.
I think the sense of violation must be the hardest thing to recover from.
That is so scary. Glad you caught it in time. Keep us posted.
Well, it looks like things are working themselves out. The bank was very prompt in their response, and I just hope it doesn’t happen again!