Why is a stranger using my address for his checking account and debit cards?

[Anonymous]

I received an address change card from a major bank. The card listed the name of a stranger and said that they were writing to let the man know his credit card and two debit accounts had been updated to MY home address. The wording was unclear so they may have meant that my address was his old address.

This man never lived at my address. We know who lived here before, and he was not alive back then.

We have lived here so long, and there's no way he thought he lived here.

Is this guy scamming somehow? If so, what's the scam? He lives in Florida. I looked him up, and he has a somewhat unusual last name.

I called the bank and they said it's a simple fix, but they need my account number to do so. I didn't expect they would want to look up my account, so I didn't have it with me. I'll have to call back.

Do any of you know what might be going on?

[Anonymous]

That doesn't make sense...why would they need your account number? What if was a bank where you didn't have an account? Are you calling a number that was on the notice? Check the bank's website and make sure you are calling the real number. I would also check your credit report and freeze it at all three bureaus....Everyone should do this anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That doesn't make sense...why would they need your account number? What if was a bank where you didn't have an account? Are you calling a number that was on the notice? Check the bank's website and make sure you are calling the real number. I would also check your credit report and freeze it at all three bureaus....Everyone should do this anyway.

OMG!! I didn't even think that I was not really calling the bank!

OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That doesn't make sense...why would they need your account number? What if was a bank where you didn't have an account? Are you calling a number that was on the notice? Check the bank's website and make sure you are calling the real number. I would also check your credit report and freeze it at all three bureaus....Everyone should do this anyway.

OMG!! I didn't even think that I was not really calling the bank!

OP

I checked with Mr. Google, and I called the real number. The numbers have the company name in them. WELLS for Wells Fargo.

I do not understand at all why the person (allegedly at Wells Fargo) wants or needs my account number, and that makes me uneasy. They also said they could not find us in the system by using our names.

OP

[Anonymous]

So … you called the number … provided on the notice … and almost gave them your account number?
Is that correct?

[Anonymous]

Call the bank from their website number (not the card you received) and tell them somebody's using your address for their account. Talk to their fraud people.

I have this happen all the time with my email - eg, billing statements sent to my email address for accounts I don't own - and it's impossible to fix: the vendors don't care. But for a home address and a bank account, I would hope they take it seriously.

[Anonymous]

Wait.

You nearly gave your account number to a bank you are not banking with? Or do you and this man share the same bank?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I received an address change card from a major bank. The card listed the name of a stranger and said that they were writing to let the man know his credit card and two debit accounts had been updated to MY home address. The wording was unclear so they may have meant that my address was his old address.

This man never lived at my address. We know who lived here before, and he was not alive back then.

We have lived here so long, and there's no way he thought he lived here.

Is this guy scamming somehow? If so, what's the scam? He lives in Florida. I looked him up, and he has a somewhat unusual last name.

I called the bank and they said it's a simple fix, but they need my account number to do so. I didn't expect they would want to look up my account, so I didn't have it with me. I'll have to call back.

Do any of you know what might be going on?

What if you didn't bank at the same place? That question and its relevance make no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Call the bank from their website number (not the card you received) and tell them somebody's using your address for their account. Talk to their fraud people.

I have this happen all the time with my email - eg, billing statements sent to my email address for accounts I don't own - and it's impossible to fix: the vendors don't care. But for a home address and a bank account, I would hope they take it seriously.

The number on the postcard matches the number on the website.

OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait.

You nearly gave your account number to a bank you are not banking with? Or do you and this man share the same bank?

The stranger and I share a bank. For some reason, his info is coming to my address.

I called the bank (at their real number listed on their website), and they said they want my account number to fix it.

OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Call the bank from their website number (not the card you received) and tell them somebody's using your address for their account. Talk to their fraud people.

I have this happen all the time with my email - eg, billing statements sent to my email address for accounts I don't own - and it's impossible to fix: the vendors don't care. But for a home address and a bank account, I would hope they take it seriously.

The number on the postcard matches the number on the website.

OP

Is there a branch in your town? Go to the branch.

They shouldn't need your account number. That makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Your account number is irrelevant. What matters is that on his account, he’s listing your address as his when he doesn’t live there. I would take a pic of the letter and ask for an email address that you can send a copy of the letter to, and in that email clarify that he doesn’t live there now and has never lived there.

He may be trying to establish residency at that address for some reason. Or it may be a mixup at the bank. Either way it’s concerning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait.

You nearly gave your account number to a bank you are not banking with? Or do you and this man share the same bank?

The stranger and I share a bank. For some reason, his info is coming to my address.

I called the bank (at their real number listed on their website), and they said they want my account number to fix it.

OP

You just found the scam.

Take the man’s account info to the bank and to the post office and tell both of them he doesn’t live here. Then shred anything else you get for him. Do not overlap the two accounts in any way.

[Anonymous]

Can you take the address change notification to the post office and have it returned to sender?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait.

You nearly gave your account number to a bank you are not banking with? Or do you and this man share the same bank?

The stranger and I share a bank. For some reason, his info is coming to my address.

I called the bank (at their real number listed on their website), and they said they want my account number to fix it.

OP

OK, they just want to make sure you are the person who you say you are. You can give them your account number.

I suppose this is either a clerical error on the bank's part, or the man wants a fake address in your state, for some reason.