Author Topic: UGH I may have given into a scammer's game for my SSN  (Read 3024 times)

jeromedawg

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UGH I may have given into a scammer's game for my SSN
« on: June 27, 2017, 12:31:28 PM »
So I did something really stupid and called a number off a PDF for a CC application I supposedly applied for (but didn't) to ask what this was about. The guy at some point asked for the last four of my SSN and I gave them... not sure why I did this but that was a complete idiot facepunch move (esp after Googling if giving the last 4 is OK... it seems like it's NOT if you don't trust them. Even if it's not the full SSN for that matter).

Am I being paranoid?

I'm wondering if I need to initiate a credit freeze/fraud alerts, etc.

Anyway, the email was from Total Visa Card: TotalVisaCard info@totalcardvisa.com

And the content reads:
Quote
Thank you for applying for a Total VISA Credit Card, issued by Mid

America Bank & Trust Company. Unfortunately, we are unable to

approve your application at this time for the following reason(s):

● No Checking Account

If you have any questions regarding this notice, please contact us

at Total VISA, PO Box 89940, Sioux Falls, SD 57109-9940 or call us

at 800-927-7048 during the hours of 8:00am to 5:00pm Central Time

Monday through Friday.

It *looks* legit and the website/address look legit too but that phone number is suspect. I have no idea WHY I decided to dial it and then proceed to give the last four of my SSN. I feel like such an idiot right now...

Anyway, is there anything I should do in light of potentially making a huge mistake and screw-up here? Contact Experian?

yachi

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Re: UGH I may have given into a scammer's game for my SSN
« Reply #1 on: June 27, 2017, 12:54:25 PM »
hmm.  TOTAL looks like a credit card for people with poor credit, so I don't doubt you didn't apply for it.  800-927-7048  doesn't show up on the TOTAL website though.  Their numbers are (888) 267-7942 and (888) 257-1159.

trashmanz

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Re: UGH I may have given into a scammer's game for my SSN
« Reply #2 on: June 27, 2017, 12:58:49 PM »
You should always have a freeze on your credit report at all the agencies.  Everyone should have their credit locked until they need it, also you can get a free credit report once a year for each of the three agencies, so do one in a few weeks and then another later. 

But, def. lock down your credit (i.e. credit freeze)  http://clark.com/personal-finance-credit/credit-freeze-and-thaw-guide/

jeromedawg

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Re: UGH I may have given into a scammer's game for my SSN
« Reply #3 on: June 27, 2017, 01:01:11 PM »
So I ended up calling Mid America Bank and got the number they give out for Total Visa. I contacted that number and asked if they recognize the original number I called but she was like "we have so many 800 and 877 numbers it's like a needle in a haystack" and then took down the 'application ID' number I provided to the first guy. She confirmed that I did call in earlier and spoke with someone about it so apparently it was a legit number, and they did remove my email because the first guy said he would and the rep I just spoke with said there's no email associated with the application ID I provided from the email. She confirmed too that the person who applied for the card doesn't match up with myself via birthdate. So I think I'm in the clear... it just seems like whoever applied for this some how managed to enter my email instead of theirs? Still seems pretty weird to me that that would happen. Guess I'll be keeping an eye on my credit reports regardless.

That was scary... I'm still frazzled and am paranoid that something's going on.

jeromedawg

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Re: UGH I may have given into a scammer's game for my SSN
« Reply #4 on: June 27, 2017, 01:21:22 PM »
You should always have a freeze on your credit report at all the agencies.  Everyone should have their credit locked until they need it, also you can get a free credit report once a year for each of the three agencies, so do one in a few weeks and then another later. 

But, def. lock down your credit (i.e. credit freeze)  http://clark.com/personal-finance-credit/credit-freeze-and-thaw-guide/

Doesn't it cost money every time you want to freeze and unfreeze credit? And times 3 since you'd have to do it across 3 agencies? I guess in this sense, it's a 'small price to pay' right? If you're into churning credit cards, travel hacking, etc, that might get a bit tedious though, no? I'm not really into that stuff right now but I might be in the future.

Mgmny

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Re: UGH I may have given into a scammer's game for my SSN
« Reply #5 on: June 27, 2017, 01:43:41 PM »
So I ended up calling Mid America Bank and got the number they give out for Total Visa. I contacted that number and asked if they recognize the original number I called but she was like "we have so many 800 and 877 numbers it's like a needle in a haystack" and then took down the 'application ID' number I provided to the first guy. She confirmed that I did call in earlier and spoke with someone about it so apparently it was a legit number, and they did remove my email because the first guy said he would and the rep I just spoke with said there's no email associated with the application ID I provided from the email. She confirmed too that the person who applied for the card doesn't match up with myself via birthdate. So I think I'm in the clear... it just seems like whoever applied for this some how managed to enter my email instead of theirs? Still seems pretty weird to me that that would happen. Guess I'll be keeping an eye on my credit reports regardless.

That was scary... I'm still frazzled and am paranoid that something's going on.

When you gave the the last 4, did it match up in their records? If it did, then it's not just a simple case of someone putting in your email on accident....

jeromedawg

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Re: UGH I may have given into a scammer's game for my SSN
« Reply #6 on: June 27, 2017, 02:07:08 PM »
So I ended up calling Mid America Bank and got the number they give out for Total Visa. I contacted that number and asked if they recognize the original number I called but she was like "we have so many 800 and 877 numbers it's like a needle in a haystack" and then took down the 'application ID' number I provided to the first guy. She confirmed that I did call in earlier and spoke with someone about it so apparently it was a legit number, and they did remove my email because the first guy said he would and the rep I just spoke with said there's no email associated with the application ID I provided from the email. She confirmed too that the person who applied for the card doesn't match up with myself via birthdate. So I think I'm in the clear... it just seems like whoever applied for this some how managed to enter my email instead of theirs? Still seems pretty weird to me that that would happen. Guess I'll be keeping an eye on my credit reports regardless.

That was scary... I'm still frazzled and am paranoid that something's going on.

When you gave the the last 4, did it match up in their records? If it did, then it's not just a simple case of someone putting in your email on accident....

Nah, confirmed with the 2nd rep. My initial concern was that I was talking to a shady scammer the very first time, and thought that he was fishing for the last four of my SSN (I've read that in some cases that it can be dangerous if scammers/id thieves have even a portion of your SSN). The second call via a different number confirmed that I spoke with a legit rep though, so I'm a bit more relieved. And yea, it does sound like someone just fat-fingered the email. It's my first name, middle initial, and last name. It could have been that they were opening the account over the phone, were giving the email verbally, and the rep heard "D" or "E" instead of "P" for the middle initial... that would probably make the most sense in this case.

TheStachery

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Re: UGH I may have given into a scammer's game for my SSN
« Reply #7 on: June 27, 2017, 02:08:34 PM »
You should always have a freeze on your credit report at all the agencies.  Everyone should have their credit locked until they need it, also you can get a free credit report once a year for each of the three agencies, so do one in a few weeks and then another later. 

But, def. lock down your credit (i.e. credit freeze)  http://clark.com/personal-finance-credit/credit-freeze-and-thaw-guide/

Doesn't it cost money every time you want to freeze and unfreeze credit? And times 3 since you'd have to do it across 3 agencies? I guess in this sense, it's a 'small price to pay' right? If you're into churning credit cards, travel hacking, etc, that might get a bit tedious though, no? I'm not really into that stuff right now but I might be in the future.

It varies by state for costs to freeze and unfreeze.  It cost me to add my freeze, but I can thaw and freeze whenever I want.  I have to go to three different websites.  I also don't churn CCs.  I would recommend everyone freeze their credit, including their child's credit.  It could also stop someone for impulse opening line of credits with dept stores...

this website shows the rules for each state, but it is a bit out of date.  A better option is to go to all three agencies and look at the rules by state on their websites.
http://consumersunion.org/research/consumers-unions-guide-to-security-freeze-protection/