Reporting identity theft

wayneinFL · April 5, 2014, 06:56 PM

To what law enforcement agency would you report fraud due to identity theft?

Here's the situation. I live in Florida. I am currently working in GA. I found today that 3 transactions went through against my bank account in Freehold, NJ. The bank knows about it, and has shut off my card, and filed a claim.

Freehold won't take a police report, because I can't do it in person. MCSO in FL won't take the report, because I am not there either. Kennesaw won't take the report, because I am a resident of FL and the crime happened in NJ.

It sounds as if I will get the money back eventually. I hope that happens. In the meantime, crooks are walking around with my hard earned money and there's not a damned thing anyone will do to stop them. These people did this in front of a security camera in Barnes and Noble and are going to get off scot free.

Looking at the apathy of all 3 jurisdictions, it's no wonder that consumers are paying over a billion dollars a year to fund these crooks.

Is there anything I can do to get something done about this?

**Aguila Blanca** · April 5, 2014, 07:35 PM

Interstate crime ==> FBI

Sarge · April 5, 2014, 08:05 PM

Depends on the laws of your home state. Some states, like MO, allow a resident to make the report with the agency having jurisdiction where they live.

Your immediate problem is to get a report made and/or fax a fraud affidavit to your bank, so they will abate the debits against your account.

Fishing_Cabin · April 6, 2014, 12:09 AM

wayneinFL,

Attempt to make a contact/report with the agency in your home state who issues your photo ID. Like DMV. I don't know about FL off hand but I know the NC DMV License and Theft guys take ID theft pretty seriously. I would advise you to check with your home state and see who is over investigating ID theft, and set up a time to meet with them and share the information you have. You may have to make a report in your home state so that they have jurisdiction in the matter.

Salmoneye · April 6, 2014, 07:01 AM

At least they are well read criminals...

(Sorry...Couldn't resist)

Been there...

Had 5 brand new smart phones and 5 service plans taken out in my name at a security cammed Verizon Store in the midwest a few years back...All they had was my card number...No ID, and gave a false SSN...I verified all of this myself by going through the local Verizon store...

No one wanted to hear about it...Filed a report with the FBI and never heard another word...

The only time I had used my card anywhere near that part of the country was one time on the phone buying a part for an antique outboard motor...Business was 20 miles away from the Verizon store, and only one week had elapsed between my legit purchase and the crime...

I figured even the FBI could do the math on that one...

I wish you luck!

wabashman · April 6, 2014, 07:25 AM

I had my card compromised last week. Freaking douche bag crooks stole 1300$ from me. I filled a report in Pennsylvania where they used it to purchase some dominoes pizza. Was no need to file one locally as nothing was used here I guess. Now the waiting game to see if any charges will be filed.

I should have all my money back come Tuesday of this week.

**Aguila Blanca** · April 6, 2014, 08:06 AM

Be sure to file a written report with the three credit agencies (Experian, Equifax, and ???).

wayneinFL · April 6, 2014, 06:30 PM

Thanks for the responses. I received a response from the people in NJ I tried to contact yesterday.

Quote:

We received your spirited email.

Unfortunately, you contacted the wrong police department.

We are the Freehold Borough Police Department. Barnes and Noble is in Freehold Township, and the restaurant is in Howell Township. Both have their own investigative units.

"Spirited" was a kind way of putting it.

Howell has gotten back with me already, waiting for a response from Freehold Township.

I contacted the bank, and since the transactions in NJ happened 4 hours after I made a transaction in GA, it was pretty clear it was fraudulent.

I did check my credit reports, and each one of my other cards. Nothing so far, so it looks like maybe they just got my name and debit card number.

I'm hoping they haven't gotten my driver's license number. I'm going to look into that Monday.

WyMark · April 6, 2014, 07:40 PM

Sounds like credit card fraud rather than identity theft. Happened to me a few years ago after a visit to a restaurant in another town not far away. When I noticed the charges I called my bank, they had already flagged one ~$450 charge as likely fraudulent. There were two other charges for ~$100 each that I put a stop on, I had to contact both vendors and explain that the charges were fraudulent and they they would not be paid. One hadn't shipped yet and stopped the order, the other was able to recall their order from the shipper before it was delivered.

I got a new card, and nobody got screwed. Moral of the story: check your credit and debit accounts every day or two for charges that shouldn't be there. I notified the restaurant, hopefully that waitress got the boot but who knows how many other cards she was able to scam.

**Tom Servo** · April 6, 2014, 07:51 PM

While this is certainly an unfortunate occurrence, it doesn't really fit the mission of the forum.

April 5, 2014, 06:56 PM	#1
wayneinFL Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2004 Posts: 1,944	Reporting identity theft To what law enforcement agency would you report fraud due to identity theft? Here's the situation. I live in Florida. I am currently working in GA. I found today that 3 transactions went through against my bank account in Freehold, NJ. The bank knows about it, and has shut off my card, and filed a claim. Freehold won't take a police report, because I can't do it in person. MCSO in FL won't take the report, because I am not there either. Kennesaw won't take the report, because I am a resident of FL and the crime happened in NJ. It sounds as if I will get the money back eventually. I hope that happens. In the meantime, crooks are walking around with my hard earned money and there's not a damned thing anyone will do to stop them. These people did this in front of a security camera in Barnes and Noble and are going to get off scot free. Looking at the apathy of all 3 jurisdictions, it's no wonder that consumers are paying over a billion dollars a year to fund these crooks. Is there anything I can do to get something done about this?

April 5, 2014, 08:05 PM	#3
Sarge Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2002 Location: MO Posts: 5,457	Depends on the laws of your home state. Some states, like MO, allow a resident to make the report with the agency having jurisdiction where they live. Your immediate problem is to get a report made and/or fax a fraud affidavit to your bank, so they will abate the debits against your account. __________________ People were smarter before the Internet, or imbeciles were harder to notice.

April 6, 2014, 07:51 PM	#10
Tom Servo Staff Join Date: September 27, 2008 Location: Foothills of the Appalachians Posts: 13,059	While this is certainly an unfortunate occurrence, it doesn't really fit the mission of the forum. __________________ Sometimes it’s nice not to destroy the world for a change. --Randall Munroe

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April 5, 2014, 07:35 PM	#2
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,458	Interstate crime ==> FBI

April 6, 2014, 12:09 AM	#4
Fishing_Cabin Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2010 Posts: 720	wayneinFL, Attempt to make a contact/report with the agency in your home state who issues your photo ID. Like DMV. I don't know about FL off hand but I know the NC DMV License and Theft guys take ID theft pretty seriously. I would advise you to check with your home state and see who is over investigating ID theft, and set up a time to meet with them and share the information you have. You may have to make a report in your home state so that they have jurisdiction in the matter.

April 6, 2014, 07:01 AM	#5
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	At least they are well read criminals... (Sorry...Couldn't resist) Been there... Had 5 brand new smart phones and 5 service plans taken out in my name at a security cammed Verizon Store in the midwest a few years back...All they had was my card number...No ID, and gave a false SSN...I verified all of this myself by going through the local Verizon store... No one wanted to hear about it...Filed a report with the FBI and never heard another word... The only time I had used my card anywhere near that part of the country was one time on the phone buying a part for an antique outboard motor...Business was 20 miles away from the Verizon store, and only one week had elapsed between my legit purchase and the crime... I figured even the FBI could do the math on that one... I wish you luck!

April 6, 2014, 07:25 AM	#6
wabashman Member Join Date: October 3, 2013 Posts: 23	I had my card compromised last week. Freaking douche bag crooks stole 1300$ from me. I filled a report in Pennsylvania where they used it to purchase some dominoes pizza. Was no need to file one locally as nothing was used here I guess. Now the waiting game to see if any charges will be filed. I should have all my money back come Tuesday of this week.

April 6, 2014, 08:06 AM	#7
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,458	Be sure to file a written report with the three credit agencies (Experian, Equifax, and ???).

April 6, 2014, 07:40 PM	#9
WyMark Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Wyoming Posts: 647	Sounds like credit card fraud rather than identity theft. Happened to me a few years ago after a visit to a restaurant in another town not far away. When I noticed the charges I called my bank, they had already flagged one ~$450 charge as likely fraudulent. There were two other charges for ~$100 each that I put a stop on, I had to contact both vendors and explain that the charges were fraudulent and they they would not be paid. One hadn't shipped yet and stopped the order, the other was able to recall their order from the shipper before it was delivered. I got a new card, and nobody got screwed. Moral of the story: check your credit and debit accounts every day or two for charges that shouldn't be there. I notified the restaurant, hopefully that waitress got the boot but who knows how many other cards she was able to scam.