Have you ever been a victim of identity theft?
My state expanded unemployment benefits and I believe I should qualify for them now, where I didn’t before because I’m self-employed. However, today I went to file for them and found out that there is already an account open with my name/SSN. I’ve never filed for unemployment, so this feels like a big red flag. My only option was to reset my PIN and it says it will mail the new PIN to the address on my file. Whether that is my address remains to be seen.
In the meantime, I tried calling but apparently no one is currently available for live support with everything that’s going on, so you just get an automated recording to check the website and then it hangs up. I called the police, but they said unless I get a denied claim they can’t do anything, but I can’t actually file for a claim because I can’t access “my” account.
Thankfully I have a freeze on my credit already and I called my bank to let them know. Is there anything else that I’m missing? I’m so frazzled lately that it’s hard to even think straight, let alone know if I’m doing everything I need to be doing in unusual circumstances.
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Yes. Someone who worked for Bank Of America took my information and made a fake I.D. to take $10,000 out of my Mom’s savings. They were caught and are in jail.
@filmfann wow, they worked for the bank? That’s crazy.
15 years ago, I was hit. Someone, somehow used my Shell gasoline credit card number to charge a bunch of phone calls and 2 airline tickets to Manilla. I had no idea at the time that the card could be used for either purpose. The charges were expunged, but I’ve often wondered if the culprit was discovered.
We’ve dealt with it at least 3 times. It’s a pain in the butt.
Also, I’m pretty sure the IRS will be interested because the unemployment benefits should show up on your account. You might give them this information and see if you can get them to deal with it on their end.
@snowberry thanks, that’s what I was wondering. As far as I can tell the IRS is also not currently offering phone assistance, so I think I’ll have to wait on all of this until things calm down, but I wasn’t even sure who I would need to contact so I appreciate the suggestion. 3 times is terrible. :\ What is wrong with people.
I’ve been blessed to not have it happen to me; but, I used to work for a guy that had his stolen. It took us over 10 years to get it straightened out and he had a Federal judge trying to help us get it straightened back out. He gave me a list of the info that he needed and once I had everything together I gave it to him to pass on to whoever needed it. I think the judge was the person telling him what we needed to get together. If it hadn’t been for her, he would have never gotten it straightened out
@SEKA yikes, that is scary.
It made me extremely paranoid about who I give what. He was 19 when it started and was 30 before we got him straightened out. My cell is like Fort Knox. Somebody may get me one day, but they will have to work their ass off to get it
Unfortunately, the answer is yes. :-/
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