[See earlier post to keep up with my credit fraud issue]

So as we were about to leave for dinner the phone rang. I looked at the caller ID and saw an 866 number. My heart sank. Richard picked it up right away. A moment later he called down to me, “Honey, it’s [another credit co.] Card.”

I panicked. Had my entire identity been stolen? My heart raced as I picked up the phone. A man on the other end asked me how I was doing, and before I could quite get an answer out, he started telling me about other services offered right now with [another credit co.] Card. I practically hung up on him in my relief. A solicitor. Phew! But we had to laugh as we realized he was probably offering fraud protection.

I am going to have to look into a ‘credit watch’ or something just to be sure my other stuff is safe. My info (depending what they have!) could have been used to open additional accounts, as we all are aware. I am actually very surprised that my bank didn’t offer this service right away. I clearly wasn’t thinking to ask about it, but now that I have done a bit of research, it is quite often to watch a ‘victim of fraud’s’ credit free for 30 days to be sure it goes no further. Of course my bank has no 24 hour service to call for this. Should I call the fraud number again?

I won’t be able to sleep tonight. It’s frustrating because I know how careful I am about my finances online as well as at home. We even shed junk mail for cry-eye! Oh, and I keep thinking of that commercial…

tagged: victim credit fraud credit watch potential identity theft