Parent committing identity theft

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both you and your husband should freeze your credit at all three credit reporting agencies to prevent this happening in the future.

+1

It does sound to me like your Dad is ill though not malicious. Those of us who have been through the severe dementia and Alzheimer’s know all kinds of crazy things happen. Talk to your Mom about locking down their finances so he doesn’t somehow lose all their money. MIL is another issue.

Here’s how to lock your own credit. Just remember when you go to apply for a car loan etc you will need to unlock it. It’s not hard though.

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/how-to-freeze-credit

[Anonymous]

PSA - lock your credit reports. No one can get a credit card in your name until you unlock your credit

I can totally see my mother doing this. She’s brazen and greedy enough to commit this crime. In fact, she’s done much worse.

[Anonymous]

My credit is already frozen, but thank you. This is not a new credit line.

The physical card was intercepted somehow. I called the company and they deactivated the new card. I think that my father must have gotten the account numbers on the card somehow. I was in their house recently and brought my purse. It takes a few days for all of this to go into effect.

[Anonymous]

I just got off the phone with the credit card company. The fraudulent order was for items that my father buys regularly.

I am probably just going to have to pay for his items, but I did freeze my account and had another card shipped.

I’m trying to decide if it’s worth it to bring it up with my mother or not. She’ll probably just tell me he didn’t mean it and to forget about it.

I’m leaving my purse at home the next time I see them in person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just got off the phone with the credit card company. The fraudulent order was for items that my father buys regularly.

I am probably just going to have to pay for his items, but I did freeze my account and had another card shipped.

I’m trying to decide if it’s worth it to bring it up with my mother or not. She’ll probably just tell me he didn’t mean it and to forget about it.

I’m leaving my purse at home the next time I see them in person.

That's not identity theft, that's credit card fraud. I have been a victim of identity theft several times - someone filed a tax return in my name this year to get some kind of low income tax credit, I've had someone file for unemployment in my name, and DH had someone do the same and then open a bank account in his name to deposit the checks. Credit card fraud is when someone has your number and charges things to your account. Are you sure you've never ordered something on their computer and maybe the credit card info autofilled?

I would raise it with your mother if only to make her aware that he needs to be monitored more closely. And frankly I would raise it with him as well - just say you found a charge on your account for something he ordered and ask him to reimburse you for the order. Maybe it was a mistake, maybe it wasn't, but I think you need to raise it no matter what.

[Anonymous]

If you have children, you should also freeze their credit reports. This may require creating one in the case of one or more of the credit bureaus--it takes some paperwork, but it's worth it.

[Anonymous]

He took the card out of your purse, or out of your mailbox? You haven’t directly answered this question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He took the card out of your purse, or out of your mailbox? You haven’t directly answered this question.

I didn’t answer because I don’t know. He took it when I wasn’t paying attention.

The credit card company has been helpful in helping me deal with this. I expect it will turn out ok. The card that was taken won’t work or have any use even to a professional thief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have children, you should also freeze their credit reports. This may require creating one in the case of one or more of the credit bureaus--it takes some paperwork, but it's worth it.

I’m doing this this week. Good advice!

For anyone reading, this only works if a report has been created. Since my kid got approved to be an authorized user, he has one to freeze.