I'm stupid...
 

I gave my sister's SS# out to a telemarketer. I believed it was a rep from BOA, asking to join something, ID protection or some reward program. Anyways, been several weeks and still no membership packet. Now I'm worried. What can an identity thief do with a SS#? Does anyone know what number or where I should call to see if any damage has been done? Yes, I was foolish to give out the SS# out in the first place so lecture needed. :(

Go to www.annualcreditreport.com. From there you should be able to view each of her three major credit reports for free, assuming that you haven't viewed them for free within the last year. If there's crazy stuff on there you didn't authorize--like a credit card she doesn't actually have, or a car loan for a car she didn't buy--you can use the information from there to begin the process of canceling that account and prove it wasn't her. You can also put a "fraud alert" on each of the credit reports, which will make it much harder for any loan/credit card to be taken out under her social security number for awhile.

Thanks, Clod!

Oh, you're not stupid. You just got talked into something. Remember, these people do this every day all day. They're professionals. They are called conmen (or conwomen), and the con is from "confidence". They gain your confidence, then you feel better giving them what they're looking for, info. And, now sis may or may not be burned.

You're not stupid, it happens to the smartest people in the world.

And the cutest.

She must do this every year now for many years. They will hold (and resell) her information even years later. With a SS and name, these people can do massive damage even to bank accounts.

AnnualCreditReport.com is the one that does not start charging you automatically for future reports (ie as FreeCreditReport.com does). Annual...com is the only one mandated by Federal law. And does not have hidden future charges attached to it. But one must ask for that report annually.

Thanks, Gravdigr and TW. :)

Lifelock has been advertising heavily. Might be worth the fifty a year -- they're the ones with the guy telling his SS# on the commercials.

Which got stolen...

Tulip, I would just stick to checking it on a regular basis through the free report. Try calling the BOA and ask if they have the information or they make such calls.