Monday morning I answered a telephone call at my home number (asking for me by name) from an individual wanting to "confirm" the information on an application of a company I never heard of. I advised him I had no idea what he was talking about and he politely thanked me and advised he would immediately cancel the application. Small warning bell went off. The caller ID had a number so I googled the number . Got one hit and it was kind of neutral. Still a small bell. That afternoon in my USPS mail delivery was a Package of information from First Data Merchant services congratulating, and welcoming ELLIDAR Inc, and the letter was addressed to me by name. ELLIDAR is a combination of my first and last name. Also in that mail delivery was a "Welcome letter" from American Express addressed to ELLIDAR. Needless to say the Bell rang so loud it almost blew the roof off the house.
Turns out that First Data is a company that provides the little machines that you swipe your card in when you purchase something. They are a "broker" for lack of a better word, between the merchant and the card companies. I have spent the last 2 days getting things shut down with First Data and American Express and attempting to find out how/who etc initially made the application. This is where the frustration begins. Local police here say the report has to be filed in the jurisdiction where it happened. First Data (They have sales offices nationwide) says they can release no info unless a police report has been filed. I finally cajoled American express into telling me that First data had provided them with all of my personal info including SSN. AMEX let it slip that the App appeared to originate in Sunrise Florida and gave me a phone # there. Turns out this is a sales office for FD. A call to them advised me that any info about the application would have to come from FD security. What a catch 22. I contacted Sunrise PD and finally got a report taken and a report number. Awaiting now to see if FD security will provide me with the original application, for whatever good it will do as the app was apparently filed "on line" from a url that is not active.
FD and AMEX both have shut the process down so hopefully no foul. I have done all of the things you are suppose to do (hopefully)
Got a credit report, all ok. Activated a "fraud" alert at all three credit reporting agencies. Notified Social Security, filed a complaint with the FTC,notified the bank and monitor the card(s) activities on line. Yelled and screamed at myself for not being more attuned to that first fone call.
When you stop to think about how many places your SSN lives it is scary. Financial institutions, Dr's offices, Hospitals, Credit card companies, the list goes on and on.
Daryl
