The Velvet Zebra

Public Service announcement update

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by

The Velvet Zebra
in

Well, I don’t have the credit report yet – it’s due to arrive via the mail by next week. And I’m reaching a slightly calmer state regarding this whole stupid thing. I’ve reported the calls to the appropriate agencies, then this passed weekend I relented and told the rest of my family what was happening, since they were over at the house and we were chatting anyway.

They all agree it’s phishing, or a case of wrong name / wrong number. If they’re a legit collection agency, then they don’t have OR need my social security number. I know, for a fact, that I don’t owe anyone any money. I know, for a fact, that no one’s late bills or overdue notices have been coming to my address. So, if someone out there is pretending to be me, and screwed someone out of a load of money, they don’t have my address – which will make proving THEY aren’t ME quite a bit simpler.

They called again tonight, my sister answered the phone, and this time they asked for Christian W–, to which my sister replied “There’s no one here by that name.” That won’t stop them, though. But I *69’d the number again, it was the same, so I filed reports again with the FTC and Do Not Call Registry.

If nothing else, this has been educational ! I do have one enemy out in the world, but that person is in another country, and would never have known my SS # or how to use it. But if things get nasty, I’ll give that name to the police.

Onward and Updates ! 😀

Comments

11 responses to “Public Service announcement update”

  1. Pete Tzinski Avatar
    Pete Tzinski

    Dear Kristine,

    I do not live in another country, and I AM NOT YOUR ENEMY.

    Good god.

    Yrs,
    Pete

    Reply
  2. mymidnightmuse Avatar
    mymidnightmuse

    Oh, um . . . I’m sure I meant someone else 😀

    Funny thing – I was just googling the phrase: Fake Collection Calls, and oddly enough I hit gold. I found article after article listing the exact same phone number that’s been calling me, along with a handful of others, with the warning: Do Not Speak With These People! They’re a scam, they’re phishing, and they’re not legit.

    I’m feeling better, oddly enough. I truly believe it’s nothing more exciting than random harrasment. My ability to hang up the phone, and/or let the answering machine answer every single call for months and months is legendary. I simply tell my family why I’m screening, and they start talking when the machine picks up and wait for me to pick up the phone.

    Agents – pray God I get one of those calls – will leave a message and I will phone back (probably within seconds 😀 )

    Reply
  3. Pete Tzinski Avatar
    Pete Tzinski

    In my book, that’s practically a happy ending. You may not be able to take the company down, but at least you know that it’s just random phishing and not something malicious targeted specifically at you.

    Every time I type “phishing,” I want to type “Psmith,” and then I want to go dig those books out and read ’em…

    Reply
  4. Irene Avatar
    Irene

    I keep getting those calls as well. One was from Capital Credit and the other from some 3 letter initial. I *69 them and screen all calls. I also just had my phone number placed as unlisted. It’s so obviously a scam that I laughed in the guys ear from the moment he said he was calling in regards to a debt. I subscribe to the online version of credit reports (truecredit.com) and never worry about my credit. You can view it anytime you want and even see your credit score. I even get email alerts when anyone requests to view my report (like when you buy a new car).

    I know a lot of people who have started to get these calls lately. At least 5 people at work besides me.

    Reply
  5. tjwriter Avatar
    tjwriter

    Funny thing – I was just googling the phrase: Fake Collection Calls, and oddly enough I hit gold. I found article after article listing the exact same phone number that’s been calling me, along with a handful of others, with the warning: Do Not Speak With These People! They’re a scam, they’re phishing, and they’re not legit.

    This is part that really burns me though. If these people aren’t legit and it’s come up again and again, why doesn’t the government step in and prosecute them? The government is supposed to be by the people, for the people, and this is one area they are really lacking in.

    *Goes off to stew some political stuff.*

    Reply
  6. Shadow Ferret Avatar
    Shadow Ferret

    I’m confused. It takes how many weeks to send a credit report? That should have been to you in a couple days. WTF?

    And what’s the number?

    We keep getting area code 313 calls. But we have real creditors who know we own them money, so … 🙂

    Reply
  7. mymidnightmuse Avatar
    mymidnightmuse

    No, if you use snail mail, you get it 15 days after you’ve sent it – and we sent it on something like January 7th – so 15 days after they get it will be next week, most likely.

    And it’s an 888 number.

    Reply
  8. Shadow Ferret Avatar
    Shadow Ferret

    Wow. I can’t wait that long for stuff like that. I would have just done it online, and have in the past. I understand your reticence (hesitation, since I can’t spell reticense) to do so though.

    Reply
  9. Soccer Mom Avatar
    Soccer Mom

    Dadgum phishers. Persistent little buggers aren’t they? At least you know that it’s phishers and not identity theft.

    Reply
  10. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    Have you considered filing a report of phone harassment with the police and/or telephone company? Don’t know that it would do any good, but the phone company may be able to block that number from calling you any more. Good thing you were aware enough not to give them the information. Also, with the credit report bureaus, most of them have a way to get a free credit report by filling out a form with them stating you feel you may be a victim of identity theft. I was contacted by our local police about a check of mine that had been stolen, and I checked my credit report every month for about 3 months free by filling out that form. Fortunately, they never used my information, and I had all my bank account numbers changed for security. Good luck to you!

    Reply
  11. Pete Tzinski Avatar
    Pete Tzinski

    Geeze, don’t tell her THAT, she’ll get really jumpy! And then all these bank numbers I collected will be worthless, and I’ll have to start all over again…!

    (I bet the police wouldn’t do much, but filing with the phone company, depending on your phone company, isn’t a bad idea at all.)

    Reply

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