Was in LA yesterday and today, I got pickpocketed some time this morning. I was running errands. I made many stops. I went to look in my purse for my cell phone at about noon to make a call and couldn't find the phone. At first, I thought I just lost the cell, so I went to my car and looked for it. It wasn't there so I started retracing steps thinking I layed it down at a store checkout or at the coffeeshop or the post office. I went back to every place I had been. I asked one place to ring the number and told them I'd sit in the car to see if I could hear a ringing. I'm thinking maybe it feel out. Went back to the mall where I realized it was missing and decided to get a hot dog fast before calling sprint to hault service. So I order a pretzel dog and yep, no wallet. No credit cards. No cell phone. They did not get my driver's license because when I had checked into my hotel the night before, I was lazy and I just tossed it back in my purse so it was loose. My checkbook and my license were at the bottom of my purse. I then go to mall security and I ask them for a phone book. I call Sprint 800# and explain what happened and ask them to hault service. They do so and ask me to hold. Then, they get back on and tell me that shortly after 9am, someone got on the wireless web with my phone. I'm not sure what that has to do with my phone. But they said the person was still on it when I called them. 4 hours on the wireless web at 39c a minute. They deactivate the account for me and I start calling my credit card companies from the payphone. I don't have any records so I'm calling information and I don't have my account numbers either but I tell them that my wallet was stollen some time today. They tell me that someone was ordering stuff by phone. They tell me to call them tomorrow because they don't know where they ordered stuff or what was purchased.

Exhausted with $5 in my purse, I go the bank and tell them what happened. No atm card now either...so I get some cash for gas and drive home to Vegas. Luckily, I didn't have my SS card in the purse. Can someone please tell me if I'm at any risk now and what I need to do.

What is a wireless web and can they access my email? Can they get info about me on the web or on my pc using my phone?

I've also now got hotel charges, dinner, gas and all in all 2 days in LA in the red. They got a phone, my credit cards and $800 bucks. I feel devistated, tired and very little confidence in humanity. Who would do something like this? I watch my stuff very carefully but there was a situation where this kid slammed into me. This lady in her 50's had these 2 10 year oldish boys and they were rough playing in the store. The kid hit me by mistake and the lady never touched me. She kept asking me about the toys in the store and I'm like making sure this kid doesn't hit me again. I think I've just got fucked up the ass by a Russian lady with 2 kids in the 99c store.

HB

Hi Heather,

Sorry to hear what happened... I hope that everything turns out for you!

XXXOOO Ashley

Ashley, do you what wireless web is and how it works? Can I find out who stole the phone etc. If they accessed email than maybe?

HB

You asked about email.  I think you're safe as long as it is password protected.  
Unless you used something obvious like your birthday or license number.  If so, change it fast.

I know it's awful, but I'm happy you are not (physically) hurt.

It's great that they didn't get your SSN or drivers license, and your liability for other stuff should be $50 at most.  
And they can't use your ATM card without your PIN code.

I think they'll be happy with the $800 and probably won't abuse you further, but just in case, here's a link that might help you:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/idenalrt.htm

-- Modified on 7/18/2002 9:37:09 PM

HB

The wireless webbrowser on your phone is not linked to your personal email unless you had set it up when you purchased your mobile phone eg if your email is [email protected] and someone got your phone, unless you set up your phone to access the AOL account all they can do is browse around the web information available to webphones (weather, stocks,other junk), not your info.  The only thing they will obviously have access to is the phone directory in your system.  Email me if you have any other questions. but otherwise, I wouldn't worry about it.  

Hope all works out.

Daks

had my car window smashed and since I keep my car empty, lock my glove and disable the trunk, nothing was stolen, but when I went to the police department they handed me approx the same info as in the link...

so just in case anytime you get stranded without a computer the PD helps with that info. Btw, did you file a police report on your stolen phone? Police should have handed you all this info at that time...(Anyway, my understanding is that cellular phone companies want you to file a police report for your stolen cellular)


Good Luck Heather ... it really could have been lots worse, glad you are okay...

-- Modified on 7/18/2002 10:23:24 PM

I am sorry about what happened to you, but I just hope this is not made up to draw sympathy after your outburst a few weeks ago. If I remember correctly, you mentioned about retirement, how slow your business was, and you were under severe criticism from fellow TER hobbyists because you had hard time taking constructive criticisms.

Again, sorry about what happened. It seems like you keep getting hit with hard times.

Sorry to hear it.

It sounds like you never used the phone for email or web access.  If this is the case, you should be fine.  It may be that they were just browsing the web trying to buy items with your CCs.

Actually things have been going pretty well with the new company so I've been off the boards for a while. I did manage to save up for Fall semester so after my tour, it'll be back to the books. The entertainment biz runs in cycles and there is a flood of new faces on the scene. Variety is the spice of life. The bear market means people are being more careful with their delegated fun funds but they want to party now more than ever!

Just a small event but one worth noting. Watch your possessions when you travel, ladies and gents.

HB

Heather, no need to worry about the wireless web getting hold of your email. It is a service offerred by SprintPCS so that you can use your phone to cruise the web. Since you had obviously never used this feature, then none of your personal information was in the browser. All they could do was run up minutes on your phone. However they probably used the browser to try to order things with your credit cards.

You seem to have done everything correctly. There is little to no chance of identity theft. Without your SS card and no drivers liscence they would have a tough time faking being you. However, since they DO have your check book. IMMEDIATELY, move all money out of that checking account and have your bank put a flag on the account saying the checkbook was stolen. They could try to right bad checks under your name and you don't need that hassle.]

Sorry to hear this has happened to you. You will be without credit cards for a few days and without a phone until you purchase another. This is a hassle but things could have been tremendouly worse. Glad you are safe.

Wireless web is the ability to access certain websites through a very limited browser that's built into your phone.  They can't get into any email or other accounts without a password, and it sounds like you probably didn't set up the email related to your phone anyway, so it wouldn't be an issue.

However, they COULD use some of the sites on the wireless web to try to order stuff, and by using your phone and credit cards it might make it tougher to trace them, though anything they ordered would have to involve a shipping address, so it's generally not THAT easy to leave no trace.

NEVER carry a social security card in your wallet, or any other document with your SSN on it.  There are virtually no situations where you would be called upon to show it without advance notice.  (The only times I've been asked for it in recent years have been when I applied for a rental apartment, and when I showed up for a new job.)

A person with your SSN plus your address and phone number could do serious damage to your credit.

Personally, I avoid even having a real address in my wallet.  Everything (including my drivers license) has a Mailboxes etc. address on it.  My bills go to my home, so that's the address on my credit file.

You should have a fraud alert put on your credit file by the three credit agencies.  All of them have pretty simple voice-response systems you can call.  Details at http://www.fightidentitytheft.com/flag.html, and lots of other good stuff on that site.

When I did this a few months ago, I found that all the credit bureaus had a recording that said something about how you should only go ahead and flag your account "if you were refered by law enforcement or another credit bureau."  BS.  You don't need a referral from anybody.  Go ahead and do it.  (It was sort of sleazy, something like "if you were refered by law enforcement or another credit bureau and want to put a fraud alert on your account, press 3 now..."  I pressed 3 anyway, and nobody asked me how I was referred.)

MisterG

Hi Heather,

Sorry you had such rotten luck. As Michael says, they may have ordered things using your credit card. And they may outfox themselves in doing so.

Some time ago, someone got their hands on my credit card info.  I didn't realize it until my bill came in.  The theif ordered about 500 dollars of goods from a ski shop in Las Vegas. They ordered it over the phone and then had the merchandise shipped to their home address.

Do you think that might qualify for "America's dumbest criminals?"

Just call the companies for all the credit cards they got and notify them that the cards were stolen on X date.

The police could possibly get some clues from any numbers called on the cellphone or if they ordered items using your credit cards for delivery to their home or somewhere connected to them. Hopefully they will get the mf's.

Doesnt sound like you lost any critical ID (Unless I read your note wrong). They didnt get your Soc Sec # or checkbook. Dont forget to cancel any things that they could use (like a BLockbuster card or whatever...you dont want them coming after you for non returned things).

You are theoretically liable for up to $50 on each credit card, but in practice the banks almost always dont even hold you to that as long as you make a reasonable effort to let them know that the cards were stolen.

One thing though, if you have a ATM card with a VISA logo on it, move all your cash out of that account immediately and close it. That ATM card is worse than losing your checkbook.

Others have already said it, but wireless web is just a way to surf the web over the phone using a very limited browser. IT doesnt have any way to get your email or into your computer unless you had specifically set it up to be able to do so, and you would know if you did.

Sorry about the hassle. Thieves are scum.

I guess everyone missed your question, probably because they assumed someone else would answer it.

"Wireless web" is the use of your wireless phone to surf the web, much (but not exactly) as one would use a computer. Some (but not all) wireless phones are enabled to do this.

Insofar as if you are "at risk" regarding your personal information via this feature, my guess is that since you didn't know what it was, you never used it, and thus have no exposure...

On the otehr hand, if you HAD used it (and simply didn't recognize the term), then whatever was in your cache at the time is now accessable, just like a home PC...

MisterG has really sound advice about checking all of your wallet documents for the SS#. My HMO insists on using SS#'s as member numbers, and for this reason I don't carry the card. I always use to think that the HMO was just lazy, and didn't want to come up with a new personal identifier. Now, I'm thinking that it would just help them not to pay for health care expenses for people like me (if I was unconscious with an emergency) concerned about identity-theft. Every little bit of saving helps the ol' bottom line

I think she said they did NOT get her checkbook, since it was at the bottom of her purse, along with her license.

http://www.fightidentitytheft.com/flag.html

(the comma at the end screws things up)

Call your credit card co
ASAP and request that all unauthorized charges be removed immediately. Someone got my card number and charged long distance calls and they were removed & I never heard any more.
Sorry for your difficulty.

You're the third person I've heard complain they had their purses lifted at that store.  Sorry to hear about your misfortune.

The rest, they take. How surreal.

-- Modified on 7/19/2002 3:16:02 PM

That's my thought. If they ordered stuff and had it shipped, there is going to be a mailing address. All the company would have to do is find out whose it is. But I guess the person  could always claim they didn't order the stuff but I have a few cards so if the guy or gal ships all the stuff to the same address, then he's/she's nailed.

H

A few months back I got a private e-mail telling me Heather was retired. This was after I made a post questioning certain aspects about her, having viewed some rather eccentric video on her web site. Without a doubt, she's made herself into one of the more controversial individuals on these boards. Like many things about her, her "retirement" was apparently later contradicted.

If true, it's a shame this happened to her. On the other hand, is anyone out there surprised this happened to Heather? You have to wonder sometimes just how far karma can reach.

I do much the same thing.  I do carry my health insurance card, but use a black marker to cover up the SSN.  In an emergency, the ER would have my name, employer ID, etc. which should be sufficient for them to verify coverage pretty quickly.  When I'm submitting a claim myself, I obviously know the right number to put on the paperwork.

Of course, I also have my Amex card in there, which tends to be what hospitals care about more...

MisterG

-- Modified on 7/19/2002 9:55:52 PM

I have heard of this same scenario being played out time and again by Gitanos in the Costa Del Sol.  The kids robbed you while the mother distracted you.  I hate to spread hatred of an ethnic group but it is part of the Romani culture (Romani is the correct term for Gitanos) to steal whatever can be stolen.  They would come into County Hospitals here and steal whatever was in the patient's room that was not permenantly attached to the wall or floor.