Identity Theft? I can’t tell…..

[CreditRebuilder2020]

Apologies if this is in the wrong forum topic, I didn't know where to post this.

I'm an avid credit hawk, I've been on these forums for a few years. I literally check my Experian account everyday, have every credit based alert under the sun and can rattle off my utilization percentage at any given moment. 

This morning I have received roughly 20-30 emails from bizarre online/payday lenders saying my account has been approved and I need to Access my Account. MoneyLion, ThinkSaveRetire and over two dozen others. One after another after another. 

Few of them have $$ figures of what I've been approved for.

Someone clearly has access to my personal information and email address....the second I started seeing the emails I locked my credit files. I have received no alerts of any inquiries, no SSN fraud alerts, and from what I can tell thus far.....I dont think my credit has been affected yet. I'm the type of person who applies for a credit card and then checks all 3 bureaus to see what was pulled. Experian will let me know ASAP regardless the second I apply. 

This is obviously quite concerning but I'm confused on what to do next. I have been so lucky over the years (after hearing numerous horror stories) that I have never been hit with any credit card fraud or anything like that.

The only major area of concern I've ever run into is my email showing up on Dark Web searches and I change my email password when that happens. I did that once again this morning. I'm also monitoring all of banking information which hasn't been touched and I've received no alerts from Captial One and Bank of America. 

Hope this wasn't too confusing, anyone who may have any help, it would be greatly appreciated.

[JoeRockhead]

Sounds like a phishing expedition/spam.... or a "friend" has signed you up to receive offers.... Either way, you've done all the right things by ignoring them and locking your credit files. 

[SouthJamaica]

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@CreditRebuilder2020 wrote:

Apologies if this is in the wrong forum topic, I didn't know where to post this.

I'm an avid credit hawk, I've been on these forums for a few years. I literally check my Experian account everyday, have every credit based alert under the sun and can rattle off my utilization percentage at any given moment. 

This morning I have received roughly 20-30 emails from bizarre online/payday lenders saying my account has been approved and I need to Access my Account. MoneyLion, ThinkSaveRetire and over two dozen others. One after another after another. 

Few of them have $$ figures of what I've been approved for.

Someone clearly has access to my personal information and email address....the second I started seeing the emails I locked my credit files. I have received no alerts of any inquiries, no SSN fraud alerts, and from what I can tell thus far.....I dont think my credit has been affected yet. I'm the type of person who applies for a credit card and then checks all 3 bureaus to see what was pulled. Experian will let me know ASAP regardless the second I apply. 

This is obviously quite concerning but I'm confused on what to do next. I have been so lucky over the years (after hearing numerous horror stories) that I have never been hit with any credit card fraud or anything like that.

The only major area of concern I've ever run into is my email showing up on Dark Web searches and I change my email password when that happens. I did that once again this morning. I'm also monitoring all of banking information which hasn't been touched and I've received no alerts from Captial One and Bank of America. 

Hope this wasn't too confusing, anyone who may have any help, it would be greatly appreciated.

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I had the same thing happen to me around 6 months ago.

I can't tell you what to do but I can tell you what my reaction was. I concluded that someone had gotten my email address from the dark web. But I also concluded that they had not actually succeeded in any identity theft, since if they had, I would have received stuff by snail mail and by phone.

The things you did -- freezing your reports and changing your passwords -- is more than I did. It certainly seems like you acted wisely, and perhaps I did not. But so far there have been no repercussions on my end.

I'm guessing it was some sort of phishing event, as @JoeRockhead suggests.

[CorpCrMgr1]

One doesn't have to go to the dark web for information. So much is available by just looking up an address or a name especially on a government website. Once a name is gotten then cell phone numbers, email addresses, and probably your work place is exposed. Obituaries have spouses, children, and other relatives. If you've been a party to a lawsuit even more is available. 

I once had a free trial to Lexis Nexus. Very good for finding people.

[Brian_Earl_Spilner]

You can pull your credit reports from annualcreditreport.com and view the soft inquiries to verify if it's a phishing scam or if someone is actually trying to apply for payday loans in your name. Many payday advance companies have gone digital and allow you to do everything online. The only things required are typically a copy of ID, paystubs, and bank account info to be uploaded. 

[CreditRebuilder2020]

Love all the advice and this is just more proof why these forums are an invaluable credit tool.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

[nytokyobred79]

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@CreditRebuilder2020 wrote:

Love all the advice and this is just more proof why these forums are an invaluable credit tool.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

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Not that it's necessary but many of the paid sites like Experian, etc., will have some premium service to monitor your info on dark web and remove where appropriate( privacy and identity). Experian will occasionally find my info on random sites and then have it removed accordingly.