Collection Agencies resorting to Identity Theft ?!

[BinaryMan]

This has happened twice now. A collection account gets sold, or something causes an inactive one to come to the CA's attention again. I applied for a secured card, a week later the CA checks my report, few weeks later after I ignore their calls and letters (since they cannot validate) and suddenly a fraudulent payday loan inquiry appears. I check all 3 reports DAILY using USAA credit check premium for $12/mo. (you don't have to be in the military to sign up for this service), best investment ever since I was able to call the company and cancel the application. I think in less than 48 hours they would have approved and dispersed it otherwise. I also filed a police report... while I am in the middle of doing so "000-000-0000" calls two of my phones and only the CA has ever done that (or appears to HAVE both numbers). Damn you Investment Retrievers, scum of the earth. It's clear from the changes in the report they know my previous employer, and they must have had my social to fill out a loan app.

It pisses me off that I have to use all these monitoring services just to catch untraceable criminal activity (after all, you really think their IP address on that web app will point to them even if it were released ?). The sad thing is I would gladly have paid them 10% for PFD just to be rid of them, they get their profits and life goes on. Now... well they have crossed a line with me. How interesting they checked my credit report before and after my bank account got hacked and several fraudulent cards were opened in my name last xmas. Since I was watching closely I managed to prevent any losses, but this is just ridiculous and I doubt any law enforcement will be able to do anything about it. The fact that a mysteriously hidden number always calls after I foil their schemes is very telling, but I am not giving in to these bastards or answering any random calls.

Anyone know how to lay a trap for these bastards ? This is getting ridiculous.

[walkin]

You need to place a fraud alert on your credit report. I had to do it once, when I was an identity theft victim. Once it is in place, if anyone (including you) applies for credit using your name/ssn, the creditor will have to call your phone number, and verify that it is actually you who is applying for the credit, before they can grant the credit.

Since you have a police report, you can put a fraud alert on there for 7 years. Cheap (free) insurance if you ask me.

Equifax Online Help: How to Set a Fraud Alert

[BinaryMan]

I had one from last year, but I think it may have only been a 90 day one. Looks like the 7 year one is the way to go, and it gets forwarded to all 3 agencies. In contrast, a credit freeze I've been told doesn't do much (ways around it) and you have to pay to unlock it when you want to do something. I'll still monitor stuff, but them having to call me for any application certainly does help.