Realization

[cyrano]

I just realized how much of my financial information was on the flash drive that went walkabout. The latest tax return being the most damning.
So what think you, LJ Brain Trust? How much overlap is there between the sort of person who would discover a flash drive at a public computer with identifying information and then keep it and the sort of person who would use my SSN to apply for a bunch of credit cards and drown me in fraudulent debt?
Respond before my panic attack is over, and win a valuable prize.

Comments

[pielology.livejournal.com]

Enough overlap that you should file a fraud alert w/ the credit reporting agencies. I did that when my personal information was stolen from the Berkeley health center - easy, free, and I haven't noticed that it has any adverse consequences whatsoever.

[cerulean-me.livejournal.com]

I'd check my credit and file a report... but honestly wouldn't too much. *big hugs*

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

It's not worth worrying about. At least, no more than worrying about this happening in any number of other ways. You get three free credit reports a year, one from each of the agencies. Get one, and see what it says.

So sayeth the former professional identity theft investigator

[9thmoon.livejournal.com]

Put a fraud alert on your credit files and continue to monitor it once or twice a year like I'm sure you're doing anyway. :D

[amanda_lodden.livejournal.com]

I second (er, third) the "put a fraud alert on your credit files" option.

[amanda_lodden.livejournal.com]

Also, don't panic about it. If your identity is stolen, you will not drown in fraudulent debt-- you're not responsible for it. It's a pain in the ass to clean it all up, but you won't have to pay for someone else's purchases.

[phillipalden.livejournal.com]

What most of the comments say are true, but when Erik was the victim of identity theft it was still a pain in the ass.

Have faith in the basic goodness of people. The number of people who would misuse that information is relatively small next to the number of decent people who would likely hand it in or destroy it.

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

I suppose it's possible that this person badly needed a flash drive, was down on their luck enough that the $20 saved was too attractive, but they were still decent enough not to exploit the information on it. There's been no chatter on channel yet so that's a promising sign.