Help! I thought I had no credit but I think I am a victim of fraud!?
Jun, 2010 in Transunion Credit ReportI am a college student who recently has been attempting to establish credit. I’m in desperate need of a new car, but I’m finding it hard to get even a co-signed loan. To try and help establish some credit BEFORE I try to get a new car, I decided to make an attempt at Citi’s cards geared towards college students, as well as gasoline cards and a few retail store cards. ALL declined. I figured that at least SOMEBODY would give me a chance, despite no credit.
To top it off, Allstate recently notified me and said that I was facing a rate hike due to an invalid credit report.
So, I did some investigation. I tried to get a report from Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. All three said that I had security freezes on my SSN and Equifax even reported that “I may or may not have a mortgage loan opened in or around October 2004.” I DEFINITELY did NOT apply for a mortgage loan. I am only 19!!!
This is not the first time I’ve ran into problems – I have not gotten a state tax return for years now, because they say that my birthdate and SSN do not match up even though I am clearly providing the date on my birth certificate. I feel as if I have been a victim of fraud, even though I have no idea how. This is my first venture to establish credit and I feel like I can’t now. What can I do? Is it even possible to take action on something I just realized, even if I’ve been a victim since October 2004 or even earlier? Who can I go to for help?
You need to write a letter to each of the three credit bureaus, disputing the charges and presentinh your side of the story.
This happended to me: at one time, I paid cash for everything and did not even have a credit score. However, someone opened up a B of A account in my name. First thing I knew was that I received a call from B of A saying, “pay up”!
Can you find free credit counselors (community groups, online…). Don’t pay someone for this.
Good luck!
Notify, in writing, to all three agencies that the items on your reports could not be you since you were an underage minor at the time. Contact the police and your County DA office.
Lots of helpful info on the ftc.gov web site on identity theft.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/defend.html
First things first – you need to make sure your official documentation is correct before you start worrying about anything else.
Who provides you with your SSN? Get in touch with them.
You do seem to be going to A LOT OF CREDIT AGENCIES- which will ring alarm bells at their end. They will be freaked out by the growing collection of “NO”s in your credit history from such a wide range of agencies, each of whom have turned you down. Every one of them probably think you are pulling some sort of con – coz your SSN doesn’t match up with the other details you have given.
The fact that “…this is not the first time…”, just confirms my suspicions.
Which you are waiting for the corrected information on your SSN and your DOB, call at the bank, and make some enquiries regarding your own creditworthness..
It does sound as if someone has stolen your identity – at least in part. They look to have secured a mortgage in your name. First approach the bank themselves to find out what criteria they use to provide a mortgage, and find out what other information they checked too – that will provide leads on which avenues to explore next.
At some point, you are likely to need some form of legal representation to help you with this – the people who stole your identity are now probably long gone, but you have to clean up the mess left behind.
Calm down.
First, there is no such thing as an “invalid credit report.” Second, the questions about a mortgage loan are routine security questions. What you need to do is request your credit reports through http://www.annualcreditreport.com. Use the option for MAILED (not on-line) reports. You may have to provide copies of identity documents.
Regarding your state tax returns, again your statements are unclear. What do you mean that you “haven’t gotten a state tax return for years”? Your credit reports do not affect tax returns. Have you FILED state tax returns for those years? Have you verified that your Social Security record (name, SSN, DOB) is correct? That the the database that tax returns are compared to. Contact your nearest Social Security office.
You need to send all 3 agencies a letter requesting your security freeze to be released.
This cannot be done by phone or by computer.
And don’t worry, once you get your reports you simply dispute the items, and they will be removed.
You are never responsible for one penny if your identity is stolen.
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You can unfreeze your Experian report online. Follow the link from this page – https://www.experian.com/consumer/cac/InvalidateSession.do?code=FREEZECENTER
You may unfreeze your TransUnion report online. Follow the link from this page – http://www.transunion.com/corporate/personal/fraudIdentityTheft/fraudPrevention/securityFreeze.page#8
You can unfreeze your Equifax report online. https://www.freeze.equifax.com/Freeze/jsp/SFF_PersonalIDInfo.jsp
These are all legitimate links but if you don’t trust them, go to the credit bureaus’ main sites and do a search for “unfreeze my credit”.