Consumer complaint received 2019-10-17
Company: EQUIFAX, INC.
State: TX
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Sub-issue: Information belongs to someone else

Complaint:
First, I am a XXXX year old woman who was targeted in an XXXX scam. 

There is a XXXX XXXX Account/XXXX account that appeared on all 4 credit bureaus in mid to late XX/XX/XXXX. I noticed them after ordering my free annual credit reports and started disputes to all the bureaus, however, I was not able to get all documentation to them in a timely manner as I had to be treated for XXXX XXXX. The original number that appeared on this account is XXXX on all four bureaus attached is the account number as it shows on the XXXX Report. 

XXXX XXXX Fraud Department sent me correspondence requesting the identity theft information in late XX/XX/XXXX early XX/XX/XXXX which I filled out and returned them that included the two police report numbers they asked for. A few weeks later I received from them a letter advising that they were removing these accounts from all four bureaus. XXXX XXXX removed the first XXXX XXXX account but then in an underhanded and sneaky way opened a new account in name with a new number and reinserted on all 4 bureaus and started reporting to that number. I found out when speaking go XXXX Fraud Department when I was asked if there were two accounts. I said I never had any accounts and she said there were two XXXX accounts. II have never had an account with XXXX/XXXX. The new partial number is XXXX which appears on the XXXX report and probably all bureaus. I received the number today, XX/XX/XXXX in correspondence from XXXX. ( Attached ) XXXX XXXX continues to reinsert and report accounts that were opened in my name on line by people impersonating me. This account look to be account that was opened online after I gave XXXX XXXX who I worked with me and was a friend of the family and had been in and out of my house on a regular basis and whom I had given three used phones and a tablet along with other used items in XX/XX/XXXX not knowing we he actually lived in XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX on the XXXX XXXX and was in the US on a work permit. 

I have had a checking account at XXXX I closed out in XXXX because XXXX was never able to stop all the fraud/identity theft on my checking accounts and consistently shutting down my debit card without notifying me and sending a new card because of fraudulent activity by other people who had stolen and used the card number. There was always money missing from my account and XXXX  could not tell me why. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I once again disputed this account as being identity theft and provided a XXXX County Sheriff 's Department Police report ( attached ) regarding a harassment/scam incident I had been experiencing with the XXXX XXXX man who I met and worked with beginning XX/XX/XXXX and until I resigned in XX/XX/XXXX. I did not know at the time he was only here on a work permit and travels back and forth from XXXX to the US collecting used items to take back and sell. He misleads people when he is here and tells them the used items are for the needy in XXXX. I found out in XX/XX/XXXX per the first attached Sheriff 's Report which is Harassment and where he and his family were trying to scam me out of money. Each and every time I told them NO the harassment would escalate until there was Sheriff at my door in XX/XX/XXXX the date of the first report. 

In XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX approached me at XXXX 's and requested used clothing and electronics ( i.e, used unlocked phones and tablets. I gave him clothes and other items and also a XXXX phone, an XXXX XXXX XXXX phone, an XXXX phone and a tablet. I don't remember the brand of the tablet, but they were all unlocked and reset to factory settings. I thought resetting the to factory settings would make them safe but was later advised it DOES NOT clear the memory and your personal information can still be obtained. I found later in a conversation with XXXX XXXX he shipped these things back to XXXX in XX/XX/XXXX in a container that contained cars, and other things but also included the used clothes and electronic items. Once he took these things back the phones memory were broken into and all my personal information was taken which included all banking information, including passwords, verbal passwords as well, all my email addresses, were taken, phone contacts, everything that I stored on my phone in my XXXX password directory. He had access to my XXXX  account and set up 3 accounts in my name which I have since had taken down. I have reported him to the Department of Immigration and sent emails to XXXX 's as they were allowing him not only to work there but to solicit customers and employees for used items and especially electronics as being distributed as items for the needy but he was actually selling them. 

During the early to mid day on XX/XX/XXXX, I had two strange calls one to my home phone and one to my cell phone both were the same XXXX man asking questions. I didn't answer any questions, I just hung up. in the early evening I received emails from my home phone account provider that my password had been changed. I called to find out what was going on and to correct it yet someone changed it again. The same evening at about XXXX I received a call from XXXX Fraud Department who told me there was suspicious activity taking place on my account. XXXX XXXX had been put on my checking account and a spoof card had been bought using my checking account in the amount of XXXX. I was also advised that this same XXXX man or maybe a woman had called in impersonating me and spoke directly with XXXX employees about my accounts a day or so earlier. These are the same people who opened the XXXX Account. 


XX/XX/XXXX I filed a dispute with all bureaus with included the first police report ( attached ) again only to be told I needed a different report and that XXXX XXXX   would not remove them. OF COURSE XXXX XXXX WOULD HAVE MY INFORMATION AS THEY HAVE SPOKEN DIRECTLY WITH THE PEOPLE WHO STOLE MY PERSONAL INFORMATION BY IMPERSONATING ME ONLINE OR BY PHONE USING INFORMATION TAKEN FROM THESE ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND OPENED THIS ACCOUNTS IN MY NAME. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I again disputed these accounts and sent all bureaus a new report ( attached ) Fraudulent Use of Identification and Impersonation regarding these same XXXX who impersonated me and who spoke directly to XXXX when they called in to XXXX number and spoke with XXXXs personnel and opened up and used these accounts using my information obtained from these phones and tablets and opening the XXXX/XXXX Account as well. 

I do not have a complete account number only partial numbers from the credit reports as I have never had these cards/accounts. 

XXXX XXXX needs to provide me with applications filled out and signed by me allowing XXXX XXXX to open up these accounts/cards. If it was opened online why didn't they gave it finished and opened up in person and where is my authorization to open a new account in my name by XXXX XXXX. Unless this can be provided XXXX must remove these from all bureaus. Simply saying these accounts belong to me when others have all my personal information at their disposal and are using is not enough since XXXX XXXX allowed these fraudulent accounts to opened up by people impersonating me online or over the phone without contacting me first before opening them yet this is what happened. It appears these accounts were dumped as soon as these people realized my checking account had been closed and moved and when I changed all my personal information including my XXXX account containing my personal information. 

Provided the application you said I filled and signed not an online or phone application that can be done by anyone impersonating you after they have stolen your phone identity and all your personal information and is using it. Also provide the application I filled out and signed on the new account you opened in my name and are reporting to. 

Also provide the letter you sent me advising both XXXX XXXX and XXXX/XXXX accounts were closed. I have my copy, I want to see what lie you tell about that since you opened a new account in my name.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation