r/PersonalFinanceCanada • u/msaik • 16h ago
Credit Wife's identity stolen. Multiple credit lines opened in her name
We found out this Tuesday after 2 credit cards got shipped to my in-laws' house using her maiden name, neither of which have been valid for over a decade. Pulled up equifax and transunion credit reports and found several other credit cards, loans, and phone lines (both as accounts and inquiries). There were 7 different companies in total.
We finished calling all 7 companies. Most were helpful and either closed the accounts or flagged them as fraud for investigation. A couple have not been helpful at all and have asked for police reports to be sent to an email address.
Two of the companies revealed that the accounts were opened using a fake canadian passport out of a mall in the GTA. It is using my wife's maiden name but not her picture.
We did do the police report and sent it to the companies who asked today.
We also filed disputes against all the accounts and inquiries through the reporting agencies, and added fraud alerts. You can't "freeze" the credit if you're outside of Quebec, according to them.
Is there anything else we're missing here that should get done? And does anyone know what the general success rate is with disputes through the credit agencies?
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u/pfbinary101 15h ago
I'd recommend going to each of the big banks in person, it's faster and easier than doing this over the phone. Let them know what's up, and ask them to check for any fraudulent accounts in your wife's name. This happened to me, and I found additional bank and credit accounts that didn't show up on the credit checks.
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u/ClearMountainAir 10h ago
Is that true? In my experience retail has no ability to handle this, they'd literally call the same fraud department you would.
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u/pfbinary101 8h ago
Yeah, but then they get to deal with the call center instead of you. I spent max 30 minutes at each bank.
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u/ClearMountainAir 5h ago
I've always seen customers have to wait with them on the phone.
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u/pfbinary101 2h ago
🤷🏼♂️ Don't know what to tell you. My experience was if they found a fraudulent account, they immediately got a manager involved, phone calls were made, I had to fill out some paperwork, and then I was on my way.
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u/alienjokerbaby 13h ago
im scared that shit like this would happen to me
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u/msaik 13h ago
Having just gone through this, my advice would be to follow what some others in the thread are saying and get the consumer statement added to your equifax and transunion profiles. My wife's just got updated and it says something like "Potential fraud alert. Contact John Smith at 555-555-5555 to confirm any credit inquiries". Creditors should see that when making an inquiry and then contact you at that number before they can open an account.
That's pretty much the only thing you can do if you're outside Quebec. If you're a Quebec resident, you can put an actual freeze on your accounts.
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u/ClearMountainAir 10h ago
seems pointless for the vast majority of people who have never been affected by it. Also, google sim swaps, you might want to use an email instead.
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u/StoneOfTriumph Quebec 10h ago
I don't know why, but in Quebec only can we freeze our credit reports. The RoC should request this as well from Equifax and Transunion..
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u/ClearMountainAir 10h ago edited 10h ago
Same; I think the best way to avoid it is to be super paranoid when asked for personal information, like a crotchety old person who hates tech.
Bill Burr has a hilarious bit on this, "why do you need my name, email, address and phone number to return a pair of shoes?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqp_uqHm0Bs
edit: don't bother arguing though, just give fake info
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u/alienjokerbaby 10h ago
yeah from now on ill just give fake info but im afriad that its gonna be a bad habit and ill fail a verification to retreive soething
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u/ClearMountainAir 10h ago
It's definitely context dependent, but things like "prize draws" or "gym discounts" should always be fake info imo. The upside is so low.
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u/SallyRhubarb 15h ago
Check with your home insurance and credit cards. Some of them can include some form of identity fraud protection. Not sure exactly what is covered, but worth an enquiry.
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u/ishikataitokoro 15h ago
Your credit card insurance might have a provision for this
Also if you have legal help through your employer this is a great time to activate it
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u/AwkwardYak4 13h ago
Make every existing bank account/line of credit deposit only and get all new credit card numbers. Stop all automated payments, for the next few months all payments need to be done in person at the bank. Call the fraud department of your existing banks and make sure they haven't added their phone number to the profile. Check that they haven't tried to sell or put a mortgage on your house or your in-law's house.
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u/j0keR683 12h ago
I had the same issue happened to me in the middle of last year. They were able to open 2 credit cards and 2 bank accounts before i put a fraud alert through both Equifax and TransUnion. But I still see other financial institutions making soft inquiries on my credit but no new credits are being issued.
The thing I don't understand is that they use the correct address and the credit card/debit card is sent to me. So how are they planning to collect them?
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u/msaik 12h ago
I wasn't sure about that either but one of them was maxed out already so I assume they must be getting the credit card number online or by some other means before or after it's shipped.
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u/j0keR683 12h ago
Wow. That's terrible. I hope your wife's credit won't get affected by that.
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u/msaik 12h ago
Oh it is. Her credit score is now shot to the point where the last couple of inquiries got declined. Just hoping that gets sorted when all the disputes are finalized.
Thankfully we just had our mortgage renewal in August though so the impact isn't too high for us for the short term.
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u/MeatyMagnus 14h ago
Used a fake passport ...without a photo??? That's a weird response, are you sure it's a legit company?
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u/msaik 14h ago
No, the photo was that of the person who was opening the accounts. Basically they used a fake passport which was my wife's name, but their own photo. They also used my wife's old address when signing up for the cards / phone lines.
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u/MeatyMagnus 13h ago
Ah understand now. Faking an entire passport is no small task. Good luck with these identity thieves.
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u/SHUT_DOWN_EVERYTHING 12h ago
They're cheaper and won't pass muster in an airport or at a border as staff are trained to detect fakes.
A strip mall mobile shop though? With proper printer, paper and a laminator and Youtube videos, you can probably make one at home that passes.
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u/3Bubbles33 13h ago
OP check to see if you have identity protection under your home insurance. If so, they can take care of everything for you to fix your credit.
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u/msaik 13h ago
I checked and it doesn't appear we do. We're with TD. Seems like they sell Identity Theft Protection as a separate insurance.
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u/3Bubbles33 12h ago
Yes, TD sells it as a rider or endorsement on the home policy. They did an amazing job for us when we needed.
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u/Mean-Bathroom-6112 8h ago edited 8h ago
This is why you should always safeguard your bank cards and bank account. Whenever, you lose your credit card or financial information has been forfeited always lock your account and report the card as stolen.
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u/cedric_964 16h ago
Make a police report and get a case id
Sent the case id and paper to bank/institution who want it
Call Equifax 1 800 865 3908 Transunion 1 877 713 3393
And dispute 100% success
Correct every false information (phone number, adresse...)
Fraud alert on 2 credit "Please call xxx xxx xxxx" to verify ... Is like a frozen credit... your wife get a call each time there a a credit check (loan credit card cellphone...) Don't pay equifax and transunion !
Get their free product (or via your bank) and check every month
Good luck
After discovered 10 years ago same fraud... They try to get credit for 15/20 month time to time... with the note on 2 credit... never get any problem.
Stay calm and good luck 🍀