Basic identity theft questions

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone.  My identity was stolen on March 10th, including my debit card, credit card, and SSN.  As a result I froze my credit with Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax, as well as placing a 90-day fraud alert.  The day after it happened, I got a call from American Express verifying an application for a credit card, so I assume the alerts worked.  The day after that, I got another call from Capital One with the same situation.  That was a few weeks ago, and nothing since.  I also filed an affidavit with the FTC, filed a police report, and learned from the post office that if anyone tried to file a change of address, I would be notified by getting a letter to my current address.  So in my mind I feel like this was all I can do.  I also ordered credit reports from TransUnion, and nothing looked out of place.  I am also ordering reports from Equifax and Experian and those are on their way to my house.

My question involves a letter I got today from experian today, saying that  a creditor reported either a change to my name, address, or SSN within the past 30 days, and I was being notified as a result of the security freeze.  Hopefully the credit report I receive soon from Experian will show exactly what was changed, but isn't there a high probability that the 'change' is most likely an address change from when the person tried to open a credit card through Capital One and/or American Express?  My fear is that the person is trying to file an actual change of address or change my SSN for some reason.  Any thoughts?  Thanks!

[09Lexie]

It could be or there might be other creditors that the thief tried to apply for credit.  If you haven't already done so, review this sticky

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/General-Credit-Topics/Victim-of-Identity-Theft-What-To-Do-to-Protect...

[Anonymous]

Thanks!  I cancelled my debit card (Wells Fargo) and credit card (Bank of America).  I didn't have any accounts with Capital One or Amex, so I know that around March 11th they tried to apply for credit cards using my information, and I'm guessing they used a different address than the one I had, and that's what prompted the letter I got today from Experian.  I hope that's it and it's not something more serious, like them actually trying to change my SSN or my mailing address entirely.

[RobertEG]

A little confusing, as you refer to both a fraud alert and a freeze.  They are differet animals.

Faud alers are a speciific process under the FCRA, while a freeze is an administrative process by the CRAs or under your state law that imposes additional restrictions.

Did you, in addition to the fraud alert, also put a freeze on your report?

Additionally, fraud alerts themselves come in two flavors.

Any consumer can place an initial fraud alert on their file by simply notifying the CRA of suspiciion of fraud/identity theft.

An initial fraud alert remains in effect for at least 90 days.

If you wish a longer alert, you must take the additonal steo of requesting an extended fraud alert, which requires that you provide the CRA wiht a copy of the identity theft/police report, which places your assetion into the form of a sworn document before a law enforcement agency.