Identity Theft Complaints Doubled

[calawyer]

When people complain to the FTC, it gets "headline attention" in the national press:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2003/01/22/national1630EST0757.DTL

[sisflomi]

That is good to know

[calawyer]

Thanks for regurgitating this old post Sis. It was part of a larger discussion on how few people actually complain to the FTC (which prepares an annual report to Congress on the FDCPA).

I was really pushing hard for people to complain more to the FTC (you know me when I get on a rampage). This year, for example, only 1,600 people complained that a creditor wouldn't verify a debt. If I were in Congress, these numbers just wouldn't lead me to think that there was a very big problem out there. But, as you well know, there have probably been twice that many people posting here about the exact same issue.

So, complain more folks and if you want to read this year's report, here it is:

http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/fdcpa2003rpt.htm

[sisflomi]

I agree with you. My parents home was broken into yesterday. They live in an affluent area, all homes are priced at 250 thousand and up. Not one person heard the theif/s bust their door down, two doors really, they had to get in the garage and then in the door through the garage. Actually, three doors, they tried to get into the front door first and failed. The stole all of my moms jewlery, even the jewlery box, she had for about 40 years now. All my dads jewlery and all of their cash and change, silver dollars and 50 cent pieces they have had since I was young. They didn't do anything else, and it was determined that they used a big sledge hammer and a shovel to get in.

They had a drawer full of credit cards, my mom's entire purse was there as well, and all the check books and checks to go with it. Also all their personal papers were in the same area. (mom keeps everything in her bedroom closet for the most part.

Heres my conection with not enough people reporting to ftc and what have you.

My mom don't want to close any of her accounts or report her cards stolen. I tried to tell her, it don't matter if they were old cc's or even closed. You and dad have awesome credit, most of the cc companies would have their old information. If they got a hold of anything like ss# or what have you, I told her, the theif could call up the cc comp and ask for the account to be opened back up. They would pull a new report, see they have fico's in 800's and not a ton of credit out, and they would open them cards right back up. Now, what if they stole checks, birth certificates, things you don't think about being gone right away. They could totally take over mom and dad's life without any problems.

She just won't listen though. If she would do this now, not only does it help our cause, but could save her and dad from years of heart and headache.

[michigangirl530]

sorry to hear about the robbery sis thats awful. if ur mom reports her loss shell b better in the long run.

[sisflomi]

I told her that. Just close it all under stolen accounts, credit cards, bank accounts, anything at all. Even alert dmv and such. She was still in shock. Maybe in a day or two I can talk her into it.

[michigangirl530]

i hope she takes ur advice b/c people out there are crooked and theyll fix it to where they cant buy bublegum.

[Capepuffin]

So sorry to hear about your parents home being broken into. That is absolutely horrible. Thank god they are ok! :)%

An intrusion like that is so violent! I hope that they recover from this experience. Check in on them sis and make sure mom calls and reports it.