Wasn't Wells Fargo caught up in a big scandal where they opened accounts without permission just to get their numbers up? (for bonuses) Leftovers?
Alright, which one of you tried accessing my credit? Includes a PSA.
- Thread starter 69hurstolds
- Start date
Ok, I think I may know what might be happening here.
I had previously enrolled in that USPS monitoring deal where you can take a peek at what's supposed to be coming in your mailbox. This morning's incoming mail peek showed a letter from USPS mailed to "Current Resident/(some woman's name- I forgot who)" with my address, obviously.
What might be happening is that the bozos might have thought WF wasn't on the ball sending out the credit cards so fast, and maybe tried to use my information to do a change of address at the same time. We shall see. Usually what happens is when you do a change of address via USPS, they'll send a letter to the person at the "old" address to have them verify the change or dispute it. What I believe may be happening is to try and get the credit card information from WF changed to the "new" address and be able to use the "new" address to get more credit cards and loans or whatever those azzholes do. The information activity flags on all my credit reports have not changed, and other than a few old phone numbers I've had in the distant past (which I requested a "dispute" for their removal) and that one Wells Fargo inquiry on the Experian report, the information on them is legit.
If this USPS letter is indeed what I think it is, I'm not going to just put up fences around my credit report with freezes. I'll report fraudulent activity and file a police report and an FTC notification. Then go in and use that paperwork to get the freebie lock down option on my credit reports. I think it's for like 5 years or something which further limits who gets to see what. Plus, with a fraud report on your credit file, potential lenders have to take further steps to verify you are who you say you are.
An interesting fact that I saw on my Transunion report is when we bought the 2020 Cadillac, GMFinancial dug deep and requested previous auto loan activity along with mortgage activity and any negative detail. Fairly detailed reporting with square footage, taxes paid, etc. All zeros at that point, but I guess when they meant 0% interest for "well-qualified buyers" they really meant well-qualified. Hmmm. I know it was for the car purchase because the date was the same day we bought it.
At any rate, the next azzhole filling out a credit application in my name will be turned away, and hopefully all this mess will stop. I thought too about this thing about people stealing your home title, etc., but then realized at least here in SC, we got our home title a couple of years before they started scanning them and having them available electronically. So any of those scammers will have a hard time stealing the house. I talked to the mortgage guy down at the bank sometime back and they said he had never seen it happen unless the owner signed some paper or something that they shouldn't have. He said that most entities have several checks and balances on that sort of thing so there would have to be some insider stuff going on to pull it off. Not that it's impossible, but I'm not too worried about that.
Just don't let it happen to you.
I had previously enrolled in that USPS monitoring deal where you can take a peek at what's supposed to be coming in your mailbox. This morning's incoming mail peek showed a letter from USPS mailed to "Current Resident/(some woman's name- I forgot who)" with my address, obviously.
What might be happening is that the bozos might have thought WF wasn't on the ball sending out the credit cards so fast, and maybe tried to use my information to do a change of address at the same time. We shall see. Usually what happens is when you do a change of address via USPS, they'll send a letter to the person at the "old" address to have them verify the change or dispute it. What I believe may be happening is to try and get the credit card information from WF changed to the "new" address and be able to use the "new" address to get more credit cards and loans or whatever those azzholes do. The information activity flags on all my credit reports have not changed, and other than a few old phone numbers I've had in the distant past (which I requested a "dispute" for their removal) and that one Wells Fargo inquiry on the Experian report, the information on them is legit.
If this USPS letter is indeed what I think it is, I'm not going to just put up fences around my credit report with freezes. I'll report fraudulent activity and file a police report and an FTC notification. Then go in and use that paperwork to get the freebie lock down option on my credit reports. I think it's for like 5 years or something which further limits who gets to see what. Plus, with a fraud report on your credit file, potential lenders have to take further steps to verify you are who you say you are.
An interesting fact that I saw on my Transunion report is when we bought the 2020 Cadillac, GMFinancial dug deep and requested previous auto loan activity along with mortgage activity and any negative detail. Fairly detailed reporting with square footage, taxes paid, etc. All zeros at that point, but I guess when they meant 0% interest for "well-qualified buyers" they really meant well-qualified. Hmmm. I know it was for the car purchase because the date was the same day we bought it.
At any rate, the next azzhole filling out a credit application in my name will be turned away, and hopefully all this mess will stop. I thought too about this thing about people stealing your home title, etc., but then realized at least here in SC, we got our home title a couple of years before they started scanning them and having them available electronically. So any of those scammers will have a hard time stealing the house. I talked to the mortgage guy down at the bank sometime back and they said he had never seen it happen unless the owner signed some paper or something that they shouldn't have. He said that most entities have several checks and balances on that sort of thing so there would have to be some insider stuff going on to pull it off. Not that it's impossible, but I'm not too worried about that.
Just don't let it happen to you.
Well well well...
The USPS letter that arrived today was about Informed Delivery. Addressed to "Current Resident/Debra Johnson" obviously a made up name. Someone had signed up with an account at outlook.com, (they blocked some of the name, but I know darn well it wasn't mine) and if it wasn't me, go to usps.com and disenroll that account linked to informed delivery. So I did, used the dropdown menu to tell them why (identity theft) and now the usps site says that email account is no longer associated with Informed Delivery. That's kinda stupid. I think they should only allow it to be signed up for with only ONE email address, and not able for anyone who gets your mailing information just sign up for it. That's pretty stupid on their part, IMO. I do know this, so far I've got everything that Informed Delivery said I would, and then some. So nothing seems to be out of order there.
Now, the useless part. Here's where I go to the police department, of course they can't do anything and won't do anything, but at least I will get a police report to send to the FTC.
These are some slick mofos trying to electronically peek inside my mailbox to learn when the stuff gets there. Or maybe just surfing for more information? Either way, the perps COULD be local. Or part of them are. What they probably aren't aware of is a somewhat unique property protection system.
Plus, I'm going to make sure the post office removes "Debra Johnson" at this address.
Again, protect yourselves. Nobody else will do it.
The USPS letter that arrived today was about Informed Delivery. Addressed to "Current Resident/Debra Johnson" obviously a made up name. Someone had signed up with an account at outlook.com, (they blocked some of the name, but I know darn well it wasn't mine) and if it wasn't me, go to usps.com and disenroll that account linked to informed delivery. So I did, used the dropdown menu to tell them why (identity theft) and now the usps site says that email account is no longer associated with Informed Delivery. That's kinda stupid. I think they should only allow it to be signed up for with only ONE email address, and not able for anyone who gets your mailing information just sign up for it. That's pretty stupid on their part, IMO. I do know this, so far I've got everything that Informed Delivery said I would, and then some. So nothing seems to be out of order there.
Now, the useless part. Here's where I go to the police department, of course they can't do anything and won't do anything, but at least I will get a police report to send to the FTC.
These are some slick mofos trying to electronically peek inside my mailbox to learn when the stuff gets there. Or maybe just surfing for more information? Either way, the perps COULD be local. Or part of them are. What they probably aren't aware of is a somewhat unique property protection system.
Plus, I'm going to make sure the post office removes "Debra Johnson" at this address.
Again, protect yourselves. Nobody else will do it.
They really do suck. It kind of makes you root for Jesse James! My daughter financed a car through them and it was always "late fees" even with certified mail that clearly showed they got the payment on time. So I lent her the money to pay the car loan off and screwed them out of $5000 interest. Up yours WF!
Interesting update:
In this instance I don't think it was Wells Fargo being Wells Fargo. They do NOT put their return address on credit card packets anywhere. The only thing you'll see is the cancel stamping of Omaha Nebraska across the letter somewhere. So, if it goes "missing" from your mail, you don't even know who it came from since you didn't even ask for it. In what I call a stroke of luck, that Saturday morning, I saw the envelope with Informed Delivery, still not knowing what it was. About 3 pm that afternoon, the wife took a walk to the mailbox and got the mail. Everything that said would be there was accounted for. Including that new mystery Wells Fargo credit card.
With this new USPS letter seeing that someone ELSE signed on to watch my incoming mail on Informed Delivery....I'm guessing you get instant ability to monitor the mail. On a hunch, I told the wife that how in the world would it benefit someone if they weren't local and can't snag things out of the mailbox? So I said whoever it was, must've been local, and obviously late. So had they been there before 3 pm when the wife got the mail, it would be missing at least a credit card.
So I fire up the security camera system and start reviewing stuff past 3 pm. Unfortunately, I have the cameras situated to see everywhere near the house so nothing can get within 50 feet and not be noticed. This means the mailbox at the road is 200+ feet up the driveway. So while I can see the end of the driveway with one of the cameras, it's not very clear because it's not focused out that far. Partly because it's far, and partly because right over that is the neighbor across the street. It's against the law to point cameras at people's houses that aren't yours. Incidental action is ok, but deliberately pointing it at someone's house can land me in hot water.
It didnt' take long. At 4:24 that afternoon, here comes a black sports coupe 2 door somethng, looks like a black, late model Honda Accord coupe. But I'm not sure obviously cuz it's so far away. But it closely resembled it. There's only one entrance and exit from our community, and we live on it. So every car in the neighborhood (except 2) has to come by our house. The car keeps going because a light colored SUV was behind him. 4:29:02 he comes rolling back by (he probably found the loop that wasn't going to let him get out that way) on the way out. Then at 4:29:36 he comes rolling back toward the house, slows and pulls to this side of the road and stops directly in front of the mailbox. Again, too far to get much detail of anything. Obviously he did not find a prize, so he pulls forward past the driveway, then backs into the driveway, and turns around and out he goes. He did not come again on Sunday, and I went out today and got the mail pronto.
So 90 minutes was the difference between me catching the problem and HIM fugging up my credit, at least temporarily. Wells Fargo should send me and the wife a couple hundred bucks for saving them THOUSANDS. I'd only be on the hook for $50 because it was fraudulently obtained.
Apparently this is one of the scams used to obtain credit cards and such by 1) targeting rural mailbox sites, 2) signing up for Informed Delivery to monitor what comes in to the box, and 3) someone LOCAL comes by to try and cash in on the bounty. Like I said, even if they took just the ONE piece of mail, who would I complain to and what would I complain about not getting a piece of mail I had no idea who it was from in the first place.
Timing is everything. 90 minutes changed how much pain I was going to have this week. Dodged a bullet I think.
Now it's time for a new mailbox that's just a tad more secure. I'm probably going to modify it by riveting a gnarly sawblade on the back edge of the door flap to really discourage hand fishing. 🙂 You may get my mail, but you'll work for it you sleazy b**ch!
www.mailcase.com
In this instance I don't think it was Wells Fargo being Wells Fargo. They do NOT put their return address on credit card packets anywhere. The only thing you'll see is the cancel stamping of Omaha Nebraska across the letter somewhere. So, if it goes "missing" from your mail, you don't even know who it came from since you didn't even ask for it. In what I call a stroke of luck, that Saturday morning, I saw the envelope with Informed Delivery, still not knowing what it was. About 3 pm that afternoon, the wife took a walk to the mailbox and got the mail. Everything that said would be there was accounted for. Including that new mystery Wells Fargo credit card.
With this new USPS letter seeing that someone ELSE signed on to watch my incoming mail on Informed Delivery....I'm guessing you get instant ability to monitor the mail. On a hunch, I told the wife that how in the world would it benefit someone if they weren't local and can't snag things out of the mailbox? So I said whoever it was, must've been local, and obviously late. So had they been there before 3 pm when the wife got the mail, it would be missing at least a credit card.
So I fire up the security camera system and start reviewing stuff past 3 pm. Unfortunately, I have the cameras situated to see everywhere near the house so nothing can get within 50 feet and not be noticed. This means the mailbox at the road is 200+ feet up the driveway. So while I can see the end of the driveway with one of the cameras, it's not very clear because it's not focused out that far. Partly because it's far, and partly because right over that is the neighbor across the street. It's against the law to point cameras at people's houses that aren't yours. Incidental action is ok, but deliberately pointing it at someone's house can land me in hot water.
It didnt' take long. At 4:24 that afternoon, here comes a black sports coupe 2 door somethng, looks like a black, late model Honda Accord coupe. But I'm not sure obviously cuz it's so far away. But it closely resembled it. There's only one entrance and exit from our community, and we live on it. So every car in the neighborhood (except 2) has to come by our house. The car keeps going because a light colored SUV was behind him. 4:29:02 he comes rolling back by (he probably found the loop that wasn't going to let him get out that way) on the way out. Then at 4:29:36 he comes rolling back toward the house, slows and pulls to this side of the road and stops directly in front of the mailbox. Again, too far to get much detail of anything. Obviously he did not find a prize, so he pulls forward past the driveway, then backs into the driveway, and turns around and out he goes. He did not come again on Sunday, and I went out today and got the mail pronto.
So 90 minutes was the difference between me catching the problem and HIM fugging up my credit, at least temporarily. Wells Fargo should send me and the wife a couple hundred bucks for saving them THOUSANDS. I'd only be on the hook for $50 because it was fraudulently obtained.
Apparently this is one of the scams used to obtain credit cards and such by 1) targeting rural mailbox sites, 2) signing up for Informed Delivery to monitor what comes in to the box, and 3) someone LOCAL comes by to try and cash in on the bounty. Like I said, even if they took just the ONE piece of mail, who would I complain to and what would I complain about not getting a piece of mail I had no idea who it was from in the first place.
Timing is everything. 90 minutes changed how much pain I was going to have this week. Dodged a bullet I think.
Now it's time for a new mailbox that's just a tad more secure. I'm probably going to modify it by riveting a gnarly sawblade on the back edge of the door flap to really discourage hand fishing. 🙂 You may get my mail, but you'll work for it you sleazy b**ch!
Rich Bronze Secure Curbside Locking Mailbox | MailCase
The MailCase is the most advanced locking mailbox ever built. It is a high capacity secure locking mailbox designed for curbside installation. Our advanced metal treatment and powder coating give it best-class-rust protection! It also features an exclusive Pry shield that other locking mailboxes...
www.mailcase.com
I have a better idea...Interesting update:
In this instance I don't think it was Wells Fargo being Wells Fargo. They do NOT put their return address on credit card packets anywhere. The only thing you'll see is the cancel stamping of Omaha Nebraska across the letter somewhere. So, if it goes "missing" from your mail, you don't even know who it came from since you didn't even ask for it. In what I call a stroke of luck, that Saturday morning, I saw the envelope with Informed Delivery, still not knowing what it was. About 3 pm that afternoon, the wife took a walk to the mailbox and got the mail. Everything that said would be there was accounted for. Including that new mystery Wells Fargo credit card.
With this new USPS letter seeing that someone ELSE signed on to watch my incoming mail on Informed Delivery....I'm guessing you get instant ability to monitor the mail. On a hunch, I told the wife that how in the world would it benefit someone if they weren't local and can't snag things out of the mailbox? So I said whoever it was, must've been local, and obviously late. So had they been there before 3 pm when the wife got the mail, it would be missing at least a credit card.
So I fire up the security camera system and start reviewing stuff past 3 pm. Unfortunately, I have the cameras situated to see everywhere near the house so nothing can get within 50 feet and not be noticed. This means the mailbox at the road is 200+ feet up the driveway. So while I can see the end of the driveway with one of the cameras, it's not very clear because it's not focused out that far. Partly because it's far, and partly because right over that is the neighbor across the street. It's against the law to point cameras at people's houses that aren't yours. Incidental action is ok, but deliberately pointing it at someone's house can land me in hot water.
It didnt' take long. At 4:24 that afternoon, here comes a black sports coupe 2 door somethng, looks like a black, late model Honda Accord coupe. But I'm not sure obviously cuz it's so far away. But it closely resembled it. There's only one entrance and exit from our community, and we live on it. So every car in the neighborhood (except 2) has to come by our house. The car keeps going because a light colored SUV was behind him. 4:29:02 he comes rolling back by (he probably found the loop that wasn't going to let him get out that way) on the way out. Then at 4:29:36 he comes rolling back toward the house, slows and pulls to this side of the road and stops directly in front of the mailbox. Again, too far to get much detail of anything. Obviously he did not find a prize, so he pulls forward past the driveway, then backs into the driveway, and turns around and out he goes. He did not come again on Sunday, and I went out today and got the mail pronto.
So 90 minutes was the difference between me catching the problem and HIM fugging up my credit, at least temporarily. Wells Fargo should send me and the wife a couple hundred bucks for saving them THOUSANDS. I'd only be on the hook for $50 because it was fraudulently obtained.
Apparently this is one of the scams used to obtain credit cards and such by 1) targeting rural mailbox sites, 2) signing up for Informed Delivery to monitor what comes in to the box, and 3) someone LOCAL comes by to try and cash in on the bounty. Like I said, even if they took just the ONE piece of mail, who would I complain to and what would I complain about not getting a piece of mail I had no idea who it was from in the first place.
Timing is everything. 90 minutes changed how much pain I was going to have this week. Dodged a bullet I think.
Now it's time for a new mailbox that's just a tad more secure. I'm probably going to modify it by riveting a gnarly sawblade on the back edge of the door flap to really discourage hand fishing. 🙂 You may get my mail, but you'll work for it you sleazy b**ch!
Rich Bronze Secure Curbside Locking Mailbox | MailCase
The MailCase is the most advanced locking mailbox ever built. It is a high capacity secure locking mailbox designed for curbside installation. Our advanced metal treatment and powder coating give it best-class-rust protection! It also features an exclusive Pry shield that other locking mailboxes...
I had a very similar situation with a slight twist. I received several store credit cards in the mail with balances and purchases already made on them. That is another thing they do. Steal mail and open up a store card at the store and are able to make purchases while there. Took out over 14K in credit cards. Thankfully they used my address so i got the statements in the mail. I got them all on the same day too which was quite a shock. Called the companies and they all just shrugged it off and said ok we will cancel the cards you are protected if it was fraudulent (i guess thats why insurance is so high in these respects they just write it off). I called the credit agencies to have the charges removed off my credit report and they offered some fruad protection for 7 years (which seemed to only make my own personal car buying insanely more difficult). One thing they mentioned was to get a locking mailbox as that is where alot of this starts at. I see you did that. Once i got the locking mailbox i never had another issue. That and not clicking on links in emails without verifying where its from is the easiest way to protect yourself. Glad you were able to resolve it. Sucks people do this crap.
