I Was The Victim Of A Phishing Scam...Is What I Did Enough Protection?

[Number 8]

I'm sure most of you guys and gals know what Phishing is. I recieved an email from "Paypal" asking me to update my credit card info. It seemed suspicious because it didn't come from Paypal.com however when I clicked on the link provided it took me to a site with the Paypal logo and their form. So I brilliantly filled in my Social Security #, Credit Card Info and mothers maiden name. After doing some checking I learned that Paypal didn't send it and I was Phished if you will. Immediately I canceled my credit card and will get a new one and put a credit watch on my social security # for 90 days (the standard time) which will investigate any time my social security # is trying to be used. Is 90 days enough? The banks said it is. Did I cover all bases here or is there anything else I should be doing. The internet can be a dangerous place huh folks? Ironically today is my 35th birthday and I get a kick in the balls like this for a gift. I am the consumate loser folks...really.🙁

 

[His Divine Shadow]

If someone has your SSN then they can hold on to it indefinitely. Credit card numbers are less useful because they are so easily canceled, as you did. If you can afford it, extend the credit watch for longer than the standard. I would guess that if 90 days is standard then crooks will know to wait 90 days before using the SSN. One thing to definitely do: get your free credit report from all three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) at least once a year. I'd suggest getting one agency's report every four months as you get one free from each per year. That way you regularly check. Getting the report from any one of the three is simple: visit the site set up for that purpose, https://www.annualcreditreport.com/

 

[Number 8]

Thanks Shadow. You can actually extend it for 7 years but then I think it's hard to do things involving credit. Perhaps after the 90 days expires I could do a couple of more 90 day extensions. Which do you suggest and what happens exactly now that put that credit alert on my SS# how will that affect me please? Thank you so much for answering, I really need the help. :super_hap

 

[His Divine Shadow]

I am not positive of what the credit alert will do. I imagine it will notify you of any attempts to use your SSN to apply for such like loans and credit cards, although I do not know if it will alert you to all events or merely ones that seem to be not by you (i.e. perhaps an event in California would be flagged, since you live in MD, or perhaps multiple attempts to use it in a day or week). I imagine that one 90 day extension beyond the first is more than enough. Your SSN has likely been placed into a list of others that will be or has been sold to other crooks, meaning that your SSN could be all over the place very soon. In this case, nothing short of continuous monitoring will help. If you are able to, get the seven year. It will give you peace of mind. However, simply keeping a close eye on your credit report(s) should enable you to spot problems and correct them.

You might also want to check with your bank; I know mine, Bank of America, offers a service to monitor your credit continuously, notifying you withing a few business days of any attempts to access your credit report. It also provides free (Well, free because you pay BoA) online access to your credit reports from the three agencies and a full report from all three every 90 days for ~$13.00 a month. http://www.bankofamerica.com/pap/index.cfm?template=pap_assist_premier Your bank, if not BoA, likely has a similar program. Enrolling in something like that, while not free, may well be worth the cost in terms of what you could lose and in, again, providing peace of mind.

I'd also note this message from BoA's website, if you've not done this already:
Alert a credit bureau with your concerns
If you suspect you might be a victim of identity theft, contact the three major credit bureaus listed below to place a fraud alert on your credit file. You also can order a credit report to identify any unauthorized activity.
Equifax 1.800.525.6285
Experian 1.888.397.3742
Trans Union 1.800.680.7289

 

[Number 8]

Yeah I think I had something like that on my credit card but i'l check it out in my bank next time I cash my check. Of course the 7 year thing would wipe out all worries entirely. Who's gonna wait 7 years...right?

 

[Budweiserbob!]

I recieved an email from "Paypal" asking me to update my credit card info. It seemed suspicious because it didn't come from Paypal.com however when I clicked on the link provided it took me to a site with the Paypal logo and their form.

You said you received an email from an e-mail address that wasn't paypals, although they were pretending to be them. Any chance you could give us the e-mail so we can watch out for it.
Being a paypal user myself, I'm staying ever vigilant (not spelt right) for things like this. >.<

Sorry to hear about this terrible event, and on your 35th birthday as well. 🙁

And I would offer my own advice aswell, but I'm not sure about the different support you receive for credit card fraud and protection over there in America. 🙂

 

[Number 8]

You said you received an email from an e-mail address that wasn't paypals, although they were pretending to be them. Any chance you could give us the e-mail so we can watch out for it.
Being a paypal user myself, I'm staying ever vigilant (not spelt right) for things like this. >.<

Sorry to hear about this terrible event, and on your 35th birthday as well. 🙁

And I would offer my own advice aswell, but I'm not sure about the different support you receive for credit card fraud and protection over there in America. 🙂

Sure Bob i'll give you the address but i'm sure he has a few and there are a lot of them so be careful. If the address doesn't say Paypal or your bank or Social Security don't answer it no matter what the link brings you. Here's the address I got: [email protected]