Home Identity Theft Concern
Hi Terry – I listen to you regularly on WGN and have used the steps on your website when my father’s identity was stolen in 2021 (he passed in 2018). I would love your insight on a situation that has occurred recently. I have had a couple phone calls in the last 10 days asking for Mr. Tucker on my home phone (don’t know anyone by that name). First was a sales call, second one was someone following up on a loan request. Yesterday, I received a letter in the mail with Mr Tucker’s name and my home address from All-Access by MetaBank with a Netspend credit card, I think it is just an offer, but it has his name on it, a card number and an expiration date. I am concerned that someone is associated with my address and phone number but I’m not sure where to turn to make certain I’m not a risk of someone using my home for a scam or some other situation. Would love your thoughts on how to protect myself. Thank you,
Terry Says
Phew! That IS scary. OK, step one. Follow all the instructions in this article to first get your credit report and then freeze your credit: https://www.terrysavage.com/identity-theft-update/
Use the links provided in the article to access the websites.
Then READ your credit report very carefully! Were there inquiries about your credit from any unusual parties — names you don’t recognize?? If not, immediately FREEZE your credit report at all three bureaus.
If there are inquiries then immediately call 1-800-CALL-FBI. Don’t be scared to do this; they promise to follow up on all these calls. Inquiries are a sign that you may be a victim of identity theft.
Do you have a mortgage on your property? If so, contact your lender immediately and warn them that you are NOT applying for another loan or home equity line of credit on the property and to beware. Make sure they have not opened a HELOC (home equity line of credit) on your property! Follow this up with an email explaining that you are concerned about identity theft.
If you currently do not have a mortgage, you likely have title insurance from when you purchased the home. Contact the insurer promptly to warn that you have been “targeted” potentially for identity theft. And read this excellent article on the subject: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/home-title-theft-what-how-prevent-jack-brkich-iii-cfp/
And, this will sort of be on my mind! So please write back and let me know that you have secured your identity by freezing it, and that this was just the start of a scam attempt and that you have not become a victim!
