I think I got scammed!

Xaquin

I was looking into the HARP program since my house is now appraised at 2/5ths of what I bought it for.

I thought this website was legit and contacted them.

http://harpprogram.org/index.php

long story short, they have my SSN and birthday. They have not asked me for any other information though.

I was looking at the fannie mae website and it said not to trust any harp related sites that do not end in .gov

oops

so I called their scam prevention hotline and no one could tell me if this site was legit or not or if I'm proper fucked.

am I?

also, I looked up that site BEFORE I called them and couldn't find any complaints about them or anything.

bowen

It's likely bad, I can't tell, though.

But here:
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft

bowen

Here's where the business address of harpprogram.org looks like.

Cog

The complete lack of feedback I can find for that site is in no way reassuring. I would take all possible steps to start protecting yourself immediately.

Xaquin

ah shit.

Aioua

http://www.equifax.com/answers/set-fraud-alerts/en_cp

you can put a 90-day fraud alert on all your credit reports online with little hassle. (do it on one, they'll tell the other two)

Unless you were planning on getting a loan soon it can't hurt.

bowen

Cog wrote: »

The complete lack of feedback I can find for that site is in no way reassuring. I would take all possible steps to start protecting yourself immediately.

The good news is if anyone googles this, we'll probably be the top search on it for reviews of them.

The Ender

bowen wrote: »

Here's where the business address of harpprogram.org looks like.

Uh oh.

Yeah, you're very likely a victim of fraud, @Xaquin. Do the police in your area have an anti-fraud department? If they do, it might be worthwhile to ring them up.

Xaquin

the FTC Complaint thing only seems to apply if your information has actually been used.

I have no idea if it's been used or not.

Xaquin

Should I call state or local police?

bowen

Probably state, maybe the FBI as well.

You should absolutely put a lock/fraud alert on your credit like @Aioua said.

Keep your credit on lockdown for the next few years, basically. The SSA will issue you a new number if it's still happening and you've done everything you can. Personally I would contact them regardless and say you've put it into a website you thought was legitimate but don't know if and when it'll ever be used.

They'll probably tell you there's nothing you can do until a future point in time.

Xaquin

already put the fraud alert online

to equifax who said they would contact the other two agencies

Xaquin

ok, I also filed a complaint with the FTC. The lady I spoke to seemed to think I'd probably be ok since I got the fraud alert placed on my reports so quickly.

UGH

well internet. It took you 18 years, but you finally got me.

.gov

.org

.goddamnit

The Ender

I think e-scams bite everyone at least once. Re-direct scams got me a few times, until browsers starting being rolled-out with built-in protections.


I hope those guys get nailed before they can sell your info, Xaquin.

Xaquin

well, I got everything done that the FTC says to do and the 3 credit whatchies all confirm that no one has tried to check my credit in over a year so hopefully, as long as I renew the fraud reports every 90 days, I'll be good to go.

When do I stop reporting fraud?

edit: also filed a complaint with IC3

zepherin

Xaquin wrote: »

ok, I also filed a complaint with the FTC. The lady I spoke to seemed to think I'd probably be ok since I got the fraud alert placed on my reports so quickly.

UGH

well internet. It took you 18 years, but you finally got me.

.gov

.org

.goddamnit

I remember several times I've had that moment.

Well internet you've finally shown me something so disturbing that I don't want to look for unusual stuff any more.

Well internet you've finally given me a virus that encrypted my hard drive and now I have to format and load a backup I have on a dvd.

Well internet you finally scammed $7.95 out of me.

Turns out the internet is really good at getting me.

fightinfilipino

the language at the bottom of the page is, erm, interesting:

We take your privacy seriously. By clicking "SUBMIT or CHECK ELIGIBILITY", you agree to share your information with these LENDERS and for them to contact you (including through automated means; e.g. autodialing, text and pre-recorded messaging) via telephone, mobile device (including SMS and MMS) and/or email, even if your telephone number is currently listed on any state, federal or corporate Do Not Call list. You agree that this consent is not a condition of purchase and that this is not a loan application and you are under no obligation.

while you did the right thing in sending alerts to the main credit agencies, i think this site is nothing but a scummy means to gather contact info and to avoid the Do Not Call list so that lenders of low repute can call/contact you and claim you gave them your consent to do so.

Pinfeldorf

Aren't there companies that do nothing but protect identities? I know the CEO of Lifelock lived in Portland and drove around in a car with his SSN printed on the side, challenging anyone to try to steal his identity. I have no idea if that stuff works or not, but he seemed damn confident it did.

Cog

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LifeLock#Todd_Davis

LifeLock's CEO Todd Davis publicly posted his Social Security number on billboards and in TV commercials as part of a campaign to promote the company's identity theft protection services. In 2007, it was reported that Todd Davis became the victim of fraud when someone used his published social security number to obtain a $500 loan.

Xaquin

fightinfilipino wrote: »

the language at the bottom of the page is, erm, interesting:

We take your privacy seriously. By clicking "SUBMIT or CHECK ELIGIBILITY", you agree to share your information with these LENDERS and for them to contact you (including through automated means; e.g. autodialing, text and pre-recorded messaging) via telephone, mobile device (including SMS and MMS) and/or email, even if your telephone number is currently listed on any state, federal or corporate Do Not Call list. You agree that this consent is not a condition of purchase and that this is not a loan application and you are under no obligation.

while you did the right thing in sending alerts to the main credit agencies, i think this site is nothing but a scummy means to gather contact info and to avoid the Do Not Call list so that lenders of low repute can call/contact you and claim you gave them your consent to do so.

I think you're right.

I actually was emailed back by one of the original contacts who told me I didn't qualify for a refinance through them.

edit: phone and email I can tolerate and avoid. I just hope that's all it is.

Darkewolfe

Cog wrote: »

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LifeLock#Todd_Davis

LifeLock's CEO Todd Davis publicly posted his Social Security number on billboards and in TV commercials as part of a campaign to promote the company's identity theft protection services. In 2007, it was reported that Todd Davis became the victim of fraud when someone used his published social security number to obtain a $500 loan.

Of course, they knew about it immediately because of the service, were able to fix it immediately and he suffered no long term credit problems. After having some of the most publicized personal data ever.

Cog

That's the partial problem with services like that. There's only so much "prevention" they can do. It's mostly about a fast, automated response.

Shadowfire

Darkewolfe wrote: »

Cog wrote: »

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LifeLock#Todd_Davis

LifeLock's CEO Todd Davis publicly posted his Social Security number on billboards and in TV commercials as part of a campaign to promote the company's identity theft protection services. In 2007, it was reported that Todd Davis became the victim of fraud when someone used his published social security number to obtain a $500 loan.

Of course, they knew about it immediately because of the service, were able to fix it immediately and he suffered no long term credit problems. After having some of the most publicized personal data ever.

Also, I believe the reason they secured that loan was because they found a credit card that wouldn't verify the SSAN.

Donovan Puppyfucker

bowen wrote: »

Here's where the business address of harpprogram.org looks like.

The layout of that area is kinda shocking to me.

Country club, low income neighbourhood, trailer parks all right next to each other.