Consumer complaint received 2023-02-09
Company: CITIBANK, N.A.
State: TX
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: Store credit card
Issue: Getting a credit card
Sub-issue: Application denied

Complaint:
I checked my XXXX XXXX account ( rough estimate XX/XX/XXXX ) and noticed my credit score went down. There was a hard inquiry via CitiBank on XXXX. Called CityBank ( apparently got routed to the wrong department ) and they confirmed there was no account in my name. A few days later, I received a letter in the mail from CitiBank, and I called their credit card application department and was transferred to the fraud team- who confirmed there was an existing application in my name. They stopped the application, notified the credit bureaus, and put an alert in their system. 
I also individually froze my credit through XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX via the automated phone system. On XXXX I created an online account with each credit bureau and discovered 4 more credit card applications in my name. 
* Capital XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX * XXXX via XXXX Bank on XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX via XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX XXXX I contacted all 4 banking institutions and confirmed there was a credit card applications in my name as described above, stopped all applications, alerted them as fraud, and each bank said they would notify the credit bureaus. 
On XXXX I started using XXXX, for identity theft protection. I linked all banking and investment accounts to Aura to be monitored as a safety measure. 
XXXX I added a PIN # via the IRS to further protect my identity. 
XXXX I changed all passwords with bank accounts, credit card accounts, XXXX ID, XXXX accounts, etc.- anything vital to my identity that I could think of 2/2- Notified all banks I do business with about recent fraud and set up text notifications on any charge above {$1.00}. 
XXXX I set up a PIN with the IRS to further protect my identity and notified my CPA since tax season is approaching. 
On XXXX I received a text notification from XXXX  that a New Account Application was detected via XXXX XXXX. Called Aura immediately, and together we called XXXX XXXX. They said there was nothing in their system, so nothing could be done at this point. 
XXXX After the XXXX XXXX phone call, the XXXX representative stayed on the line and we reviewed my credit report together. She mentioned my XXXX XXXX XXXX credit card, and my XXXX XXXX card- which I forgot to add the alerts. 
XXXX Called Nebraska XXXX XXXX to add a phone call notification before a transaction can go through XXXX called XXXX Bank XXXX XXXX XXXX card ) and they were unable to add security measures like a text notification, so to be safe I closed out the account and requested a mailed correspondence. 
XXXX Updated XXXX password XXXX Requested security freeze with XXXX XXXX submitted a complaint with the CFPB XXXX contacted the city of XXXX police department to find out process to report fraud, and will be submitting that shortly. 

A few months back, maybe XXXX or XXXX of XXXX I received a letter from XXXX that there was data breach and I was on the list. My DL and other " basic '' info like my name and address were breached.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation