What can you do when you have had your credit card stolen,” a true life nightmare.

According to this week’s Los Altos Town Crier’s main story; Phishers, scammers targeting Los Altos, 22 cases of identity theft and fraud have been reported in Los Altos since February. A telephone call to my home early Monday morning informed me that I was soon to be number 23.

That call came from my credit card company asking me if I could locate my credit card. I pulled it out of my wallet and she proceeded to quiz me about my recent purchases. “Did I make a charge for one dollar early Sunday morning? Did I make a $90 charge from a web retailer? Did I Purchase a $400 Palm pilot just after midnight? Did I Purchase tickets from Jet Blue for $600? As more and more questions were asked, the more upset I got. Some #^%& has my credit card number and is running up my card big time. I immediately cancelled my credit card.

Now you have to see that I had always prided myself on being very safe with my personal information. I never responded to any inquiries about personal information over the phone. I rejected all the e-mail phishing scams that “suspicious activity was occuring with my bank account” or “paypal had suspended my account and by just “clicking here” I could update all my information online.” I even got cocky once when I was contacted by that ever popular Nigerian attorney who had tons of free money but needed an account in the US to wire the money to. Oh yes, he would even split the money 50/50 if I helped him! I replied that I had forwarded his e-mail to a friend of mine who works for the FBI in the White Collar Crimes Division. Yes, I do have a friend in the FBI who does white collar crime but no I didn’t forward it to him. Funny, after I sent the reply, I thought what an idiot I am…if anything, I might have just got this guy more upset. Next time….What do I do?