Stupid New Jersey stealing my identity

So the identity thieves have struck again.

This time it was me.

Someone in Paramus, New Jersey, has a copy of a cloned card with my name and debit card number on it and they've been using it this morning.

I just happened to check my online account today to see if a deposit had went through and instead, about $1,200 was missing.

It seems my card had been on a buying spree at Best Buy and Macy's EAS and, according to my bank, they had purchased quite a bit more, around $5,000 worth but Mastercard put a hold on it because the purchases didn't match my spending history or something.

As soon as I saw it, I called my bank and said "I need to speak to someone about my account and it is urgent." After going through the account number and mother's maiden name security check, I said, "I don't know where the hell Paramus, New Jersey is and I'm for damn sure not at Best Buy."
The guy was like, "oh" and then I was put on hold.
A couple minutes goes by.
I hear this, "Hi [name redacted], this is Karen. I'm head of security here and I'm glad you called because I was about to call you."

The bank has already provisionally restored the account. Cut the card off, allowed me to get some cash for the weekend, talking to law enforcement and are in the process of sending me a new card.

I've already filed a fraud affidavit and I'd be really pissed but my bank has already taken care of me.

So I'm just sort of pissed. I'd like to know who took my money, so if some bored but enterprising news reporter in or around Paramus needs a story, have I got a tale for you.

 

Haven't you been writing about some mobsters? Coincidence? I think not!

 

As a proud son of New Jersey, I object to you blaming the entire state.
I am in the process of shopping for a new bank, in part, because of the current bank's lack of adequate response to a minor compromise of my account info.

 

Buck is always to blame because he's such a looser.


You will be able to get all your money back, right, Jay?

 

They didn't use it to get gas? What a stupid scammer!

 

Same thing happened to me in 2006. I had just happened to stop at the bank to deposit a check from some freelance work about an hour after several of the purchases were made (about 250 miles away).

The bank couldn't have been more cooperative or nice about everything, which really helped me to calm down about it as the whole ordeal pretty much took me entirely by surprise. The bank restored all the money from the fraudulent purchases back into by checking account. Ended up being at the bank about three hours longer than I anticipated going in for a simple deposit, but it ended up working out and I'm sure I'm fortunate we caught it when we did.

Still never figured out how it happened though. I suppose it had to from buying something or another online.

 

Does this mean I'm gonna have to return to 52-inch HDTV and home theater system Jay Farrar bought for me at Best Buy yesterday?

 

Nah, you can keep it. It will give you something to look forward to in 8-10.

 

The same thing just happened to me last week; luckily, it was only a couple of purchases for a little over $150. Like Jay, I was looking for something else and I saw the first charge, and the second one showed up a couple days later.

The bank handled it great; I had the money back in the account a day after I called the claims department. The only problem I had was when the bank canceled my debit card and I went to the local branch to request a new one, I couldn't get a temporary card because I actually opened the account in San Diego, and my current home is considered right at the southern end of "Northern" California. (You can only get a temporary card in the same state you opened the account, and my bank splits the state into Southern and Northern.) So, I'm spending a few days without a debit card until I get the new one in the mail.

What this has taught me is the importance of checking your account every day online. Also, my bank, at the accountholder's request, can send a daily e-mail telling you your account balance, which is a good reminder to check said account.

 

After telling my story, it seems I'm not the only person in my town to have suddenly been hit by a identity thief.

Not quite an epidemic, but I've heard from a few people who were also hit last week.

The bank is working on it. State/federal law says they have to provide some resolution within ten days. A provisional credit has already been given, so I suspect everything will be fine.

Hard part is waiting on the new card. I didn't realize how much I depended on a piece of plastic. Even when I had cash, I used a card. Now that cash is the only option, I feel like a hoarder, trying to hang on to the money for as long as possible.