Identity Theft

[Easto]

I had one of the credit agencies that monitors my accounts send me an alert that someone out there was using my Driver's License number. It scared me enough thinking there might be some collateral damage with my credit so I started checking. Fortunately no Hard or Soft hits or requests at any of the 3 major agencies. It looks like the Driver's License was the extent of it. The credit agency that first alerted me to it said it was from a T-Mobile breach about a year ago. The weird thing was that we were using Sprint at the time and my wife had opened the account and I was not associated with it at all. Even when I called Sprint I had to give them her information. Really weird.


Anyway, I filed a fraud claim with the California DMV but it did sound like not that much was going to be done about it. The funny thing was that the report had the person's name and phone number on it. I would think the DMV could track that down pretty quick. I mean, all they have to do us run my CDL number and see who else is using it. I'm going to check back with them in about a week and see if anything has been done.

[Philip]

Sorry to hear, that's a hassle. I'd imagine it is from a different breach than the T-Mobile one a year ago, especially if they didn't have your DL in the first place. I am not sure they keep those on file, or whether that info was part of the breach, more likely it was usernames/emails/hashed passwords, addresses, SSns.

How were they "using" your DL number, for some online application, or to obtain documents?
I'd call the police department directly and file an identity theft police report, they should be able to direct you and investigate further, not sure if the DMV is the proper venue.
I would also think about "locking" your credit with the three bureaus, so that noone can open new credit cards in your name.

[Easto]

This does appear to be from the Breach last year with T-Mobile. It appears someone here in California obtained a DL using my DL number. I did run current checks with all 3 services and there was nothing on them that I couldn't account for. Although I am locking them down. I also plan on following up with the DMV. Thanks for the tip about alerting the police. On Experian's website they suggested I notify the California DMV so that's where I started.

[Easto]

Ok, all 3 agency reports have been "Frozen". I did contact a new division at the Calif DMV that specifically deals with this type of problem. Even if there is no issue with my CDL being used by someone else there will be a note on my CDL stating that an inquiry had been initiated and there is the potential/possibility that there may be a problem associated with it.

I feel a whole lot better.

[Philip]

Good.

I know how it feels, it happened to me a few years back. Someone used my social to open a corporation, and applied for a merchant account to be able to process/swipe credit cards. I froze my credit, called the police and opened a case, etc. Had their corporation dissolved, their corporate address was some UPS store in Miami.

[Easto]

That would suck. I guess that's the fear running through everyone's mind when they first find out that their data may have been compromised. You just never know to what extent and how it might upend your life. In my case I'm hoping it's just someone using my CDL for a fake ID and nothing else. But the rabbit hole of possibilities that one might have to try and untangle is mind boggling. Now that everything is locked down with no apparent damage I feel a lot better.

[Easto]

I got an email back from the DMV fraud unit and they said "we did not find any indication of another individual having applied on your record". Seems weird that Experian would report that my number was found with someone else's info online.