[eskielover]

I logged onto the my internet credit union file today & found all the transactions that had been done using my credit card #. One actually had a phone # for the store, so I called the store....a small shoe store in Kansas. The most wonderful helpful people I could ever imagine. I was put in touch with the owner. He had no idea that is had been a fraud purchase. They hadn't sent out the merchandise yet, so my call saved him from sending out the purchase. In return, he provided me with the name of the person it was being shipped to....name, address, phone #, the email address, & the fact that the security code on the back of my credit card had been necessary to make the purchase.

I know that information wasn't in the paperwork that was stolen & also realize that a complete credit card # isn't on receipts in the first place. The only place where that information could have come from was from the person who took my credit card at the motel that Sunday night.......the plot thickens.

The motel knew what truck was mine & had it connected with the credit card # & security # on the back of the card. If they broke into the truck & stole the paperwork to make it look like that was where all the identity information came from, they it would take away from the possibility that the theft came from an inside job at the motel itself. That makes sense as to why my GPS system, my computer, & digital camera weren't stolen. The only reason the flute was stolen was because it was at the bottom of the bag where the papers were....it was stolen by default.

There were 9 other transactions (5 were for the same company...a cell phone company & impossible to reach a real person at). I was able to contact the other 5 companies & get the information for where the police could contact & get all the personal information for the accounts that were being paid for & items being purchased & shiped to locations. These companies were big & wouldn't give me the information, but they were willing to give me all the information so the police could get to the necessary information.

I had called the police station yesterday & they gave me a # to call to get in touch with a detective.....so I wouldn't have to wait for the 7 to 10 days for the report to get into the system. I called the # & got a rather jerky police person who was trying to brush me off, but I stood my ground & insisted on getting through to someone. Unfortunately, it was lunch time & I got a voicemail....so left a message.

Right after that, I got a call from the reported at the Albequerque newspaper (that I had contacted on Tuesday). She wanted to ask me about what happened & we started talking....I told her about all the information I had found out & found out she was an investigative reporter that worked with the police on cases like mine. She immediately contacted her contacts in the police department & I got a call back immediately from a sargent....telling me that a detective would be calling me tomorrow morning & for me to get all the information I had together & fax it to them.....from my Credit union & the companies I had contacted.

I never heard back from the voice message I had left earlier, but the reporter really got action going for me with her contacts. On top of that, she contacted the motel to find out if the person that was being shipped the items to worked for the hotel.....checked out the address & contacted the motels main office. She put together an article for tomorrows paper telling everyone about the flute & that a reward will be available for information that leads to the return of the flute.

I am amazed at how much information I was able to put together as the person who was stolen from. I think my gut feelings about the who ever in working in the motel being involved has to be right on & when I talked to the initial sargent, he was also in agreement with my thinking. He also suggested that I start calling the pawn shops even though they have a pawn group that works that area, but I also need to check on ebay & see if my flute is being listed there......chances might be that they don't want to get caught having a stolen flute at a pawn shop, but dumping in on ebay might be an easy way out since they seem to be pretty internet savy. Either that, or they will just dump the flute trying not to get caught....this is where hopefully the reward will be incentive to get the flute back.

I feel so blessed that there are people out there like the investigative reporter who take the time & care about situations like this. Even if it doesn't lead to anything, just knowing that someone cared enough to help me in a situation like this really means so much....I don't even have the right words to express how wonderful if makes me feel that someone really cares.

Putting all the information together for the police is my current project & then I have to deal with closing all my bank accounts & getting the bank to help me get all their information to the police. The lady at the bank didn't seem to understand about all the information I was able to get from even the pending transactions even if they don't go through...the information is still there & the companies have the information about the persons account or the shipping address.

Even if the computer makes the ID theft easier for the crooks to pull this kind of thing with, we also have the internet capability to get information to fight back & provide enough information to the police to make their job easier in finding the people who are pulling the ID theft. I know that my motive in finding the person is more in getting my flute back, but I also have a good feeling that I am able to actually help the police get the information needed to catch the person/people/motel workers scham.

It is important for us to fight back against things like this & not just sit back wanting the police to do all the work when they are overloaded with ID theft since it's becomming so previlent. It will be interesting to see what actually comes of all of this. It does seem that it's more complicated than just someone breaking into my truck & stealing the papers & pulling the ID theft on it.

Will see what tomorrow brings,
Debbie

[bipolar_bear]

Wow you really did some great work in helping the police and investigating the break in. I hope you get your flute back and they get the people that actually took it.

BB

[sabby]

Wow, Debbie you have done a phenomenal job!! Maybe you should consider working as a private investigator!! You obviously are very good at getting information and deducing scenarios.

I will pray that things come together for you and you are able to catch the culprit and retrieve your precious flute!

Isn't it wonderful when things come together to work for the common good?

Sending positive thoughts to you and all who are helping you.


sabby

[bebop]

wow Debbie! you go girl! you are doing an amazing job! good luck with the rest of your investigations!

[(JD)]

This is good stuff (((bebop))).

On August 5th of this year one of the sub/contractors in my home used a credit card they had stolen from me, and then returned it later. The local police wouldn't investigate (though there are fewer than 10 suspects) and wouldn't even file a crime report because they said no crime occurred in the city (all the fraudulent charges were done in other FL cities.)

[splitimage]

Wow - it's great that you were able to find out so much. I really hope that your flute surfaces sometime.

--splitimage

[kebsfroggy]

I congratulate your dogged perseverance and level-headed approach to such a horrible experience. If it had been me, I would be a basket case by now.

Stick to it. I'm sure with your positive attitude you will be able to get everything straightened out. I hope upon hope you have your flute returned.

[_Hope_]

just amazing, I am so happy for you, that you did so much hard work on your own and that there were people there to help pick up the ball and make things happen.

Linda

[eskielover]

Sky,

I know how angry & frustrated it makes you when you can see right in front of you what happend & can't get any action to prove anything. Only thing might be is if they ordered anything & had it shipped somewhere.....for a trace. I was lucky that a small business in Kansas was willing to open up & tell me that information....Victoria Secret wasn't willing to tell me where they were sending the order....only the police.....lucky they stopped the order because of fraud anyway.

I can truely understand your frustration after all I went through with the ID theft & horrible abuse that happened with my Mother's situation 3 years ago.

One other update was that I decided to call the main office of the motel I stayed at & gave them a report about what happened. They asked me if I had talked to the manager of the motel & I told them I didn't think that would work because I didn't know who all was involved there because of how I was treated rudely by the owner/manager. I mean, what good is it to tell the cayote about the chickens he ate?????? How far would that go????

I told them it was a situation that needed to be looked into from a higher up situation. They also are getting back with me on my flute because of the high $ amount it was worth....& will be investigating the motel from their position.

My mind has always been so very logical putting pieces together like this.....maybe that was why I was good at the engineering....maybe not having that kind of thinking to do after I lost my career was difficult....my mind does like to have challenges like this in front of it. I just don't like the personal emotional issues I am dealing with along with it.

I am so frustrated because my husbad seems to be pushing every possible button right now. Knowing that I am at a breaking point.....he just pushed harder. I lost it last night & just saw red....it was like a snap....& he just kept pushing more & more. I need some time to just colapse in a few days when I get all the information out where it needs to be & he lays on his rear & does nothing....telling me that I have to tell him what he has to do & he can't do anything on his own. I am seeing red just writing about this!!!!!!! A feeling of HATE just wells up inside & I want to be as far away from him as I can get...& just can't escape his crap. I don't even want him kn KY with me for Christmas & right now, I don't know how I'm even going to get back there for Christmas.....I am so exhausted....just want to collapse.....but can't just yet.

Still waiting for the detectives call so I can dump all the information on him. Have to go to the credit union & take care of all the banking & closing/opening accounts....faxing information to the police....& I have my pain specialists appointment this afternoon that they were wonderful enough to change when I was having so many problems on Monday. At least outsiders to me treat me better than my husband.

Sorry for the rant....just had to get it off my chest....my pdoc just called & he said to just take some meds for the next few days & relax.....see if I can't just get through it all. I know that's what happend, but when in the middle of the hurricane, it doesn't look like there is anything outside of where I am.

Debbie

[Perna]

Gee, Debbie, you ought to do some of this for money online to help other folks; bet it would pay well!

I say take your Pdoc's advice as soon as you can. Hope it all comes out well.

[eskielover]

Perna,

That wouldn't be a bad idea....to do this for other people.....anyone with ID theft information...give me the information & I will put it together & hand the maximum information I can get over to the police. I can imagine how frustrating that would be to get the police to work with me on some of that....however, if I had a good contact with a police detective that would work with me...good team work to relieve the police department of the initial load or gathering information......good idea...maybe I can do something with it in the future.

Just talked to the detective & He was thankful at all the information I supplied him...all he has to do is follow up on the leads I provided him. I dumped all the information I had on him & will fax him a copy of it all written up so he can refer back to it. The complication he didn't care for was the possible tie in with the motel worker or who ever might be involved. That does put a different perspective on the case because in can mean future issues could be avoided if they catch the scam.

There are just so many pieces of information that point to the same place that all seem to come together logically......hopefully the detective will be able to come up witn the who's that tie the use of my credit card all together.

I can't believe the person was so stupid as to make it so obvious.....that part makes it seem like a real beginner.....but that's the best place to stop them & really nail them good so they don't continue to hurt others.

Debbie

[Perna]

Just get your investigative reporter friend to start a network of investigative reporter friends :-) to be on hand in "major" areas of the country to have connections to the police so they won't give you problems. That and after you do it awhile the police will know about you from other cases you've done and cooperate happily. Like you say, it would ease their load and make you money at the same time; win/win situation. Of course some people who couldn't afford your services or didn't want to have to pay (even if they could afford to) will complain because you'd be getting faster "service" for your clients because of your connections and being "liked" but that's a different problem :-)

[(JD)]

Yes indeed. But I have just put it into the credit card fraud investigator, and dropped it. Unless they turn around and charge me for all the purchases, I just can't afford it emotionally. I told them that's nice that they will get the videos from Target and all but I'm the only one who knows who the ppl were in my home to match them up... they didn't seem to care. I'm sure it's one of them, I haven't had anyone in my home for years, and this was a brand new card that Discover sent out after they had internal fraud. (I still think it could have been that, but they insist it was my physical card used.. and it was used in FL cities...and one place was a $500 gift card at home depot. Yep,sure sounds like a contractor to me.)

This is the 4 th time in 2 years that something has happened. This is the 2nd time (of those 4) that it was due to the credit card company. Chase tossed my records without shredding them, and then Discover had the internal theft of all their MILES card info. I have so many alerts on my credit I am really surprised they got away with this. But alas, they took MY card and returned it. (Which is why the police won't make a crime report, because it technically wasn't stolen.)

It's too much energy to mess with. Just not worth it anymore. Yeah, it can be aggravating. If I didn't have such good credit, they'd leave me alone I guess.

[Doh2007]

Wow eskielover. I want you on my side if I ever need help. I'd of never thought of going to the press for help. I sure hope you get your flute back. And thanks for sharing what's going on. Stay safe.

[eskielover]

I was wondering about the video information they might get from Lowes at the time they tried to use my Lowes card even though it was declined. I have the store # in Albequerque & the dollar amount. They attempted to run it 2 times....I know Lowes has the self checkout, so maybe that was where they tried to go through & not a checker.....maybe there is a video of that & they can find the person that way also?????

Of course, I don't think it's just 1 person because it was the guy in the motel who got the my credit card information off the card while he had it when I was checking in & he wasn't the person the shoes were shipped to.....could be his girlfriend or something also.....I'm sure there are several people involved in this.

I finally got some sleep for a few hours. I am so emotionally exhausted still, I just can't seem to function.....then add the stupid husband here that is just pushing every button he can. I warned him before I even left for California that I expected cooperation & none of his disputing everything I say.....first thing he does is start with it even on the phone before I got home. I asked him why he was pushing my buttons & said he didn't think I would be so sensitive & he didn't expect that I would have gone through what I did on the way home.. What that has to do with him continuing to do the things I warned him to stop before I got home is beyond me.

Told him I wasn't even going to allow him to my home in Kentucky for Christmas. Don't know what I'm going to do now....change of plans always seems to hit me.....but I have to get back to finish the house before moving any furniture there.....& now my truck is here in California with me & not much money left so I don't have any money to waste on anything.

Whan I start feeling better, I'm sure my mind will come up with a solution to this situation....right now I just don't have the energy to spend thinking about it.....I am exhausted.

Debbie

[(JD)]

IDK about Lowes, but most places only keep the videos 30 days. So you need to follow up on that now? Target keeps theirs 90 days. It has all the check outs, matched to the transactions going through etc. rather kewl.

afterthought: Did you download the packet regarding ID Theft that the government puts out?

[eskielover]

Sky,

No I didn't download the packet the govt has about ID Theft.....where is that located?

Also thanks for the info on the video.....I realized that was a loose end I still hadn't worked on, so called Lowe's, got the store # where it happened. Have the transaction that they tried to do & information on that, so they have the time stamp on the transaction.....& they gave Loss Prevention my number & gave them a heads up on the transaction date & amount. I called the detective so all he has to do is pick up the information from Lowe's.

I am trying so hard to make the work for the detective as easy as possible. That is the least I can do for them since I know they are swamped with this kind of crap.....also my most important point is getting my flute back.......I didn't loose anything on the ID theft.....but the flute!!!!!

Those people don't know who they were dealing with.....I don't just get mad.....I get as even as possible.....& I am a fighter......they got hold of a little dog that bites into their heals & doesn't let go until I am satisfied.....or until I get my flute back.....then I will probably give one last very hard bite to let them know I meant more than business. I know they probably won't end up in jail, but with the large amount the flute is worth, that puts the theft info a different level......big mistake on their part.

Thanks
Debbie

[eskielover]

How interesting.....I thought I would make sure that the report I gave to the motel about what happened had the police report # on it.....called & found out the report had disappared. They said they have been having computer problems over the last few days.......ok.......well, they took another report & I have a new # for that. This time I gave them all the police information & the detectives # to call & talk to about the situation. This lady said she made sure it was saved to the system & assured me that if the computer went down, the report was IN THE SYSTEM.

They have a serious situation to deal with too because it isn't safe for anyone to stay there as long as this can happen.....so hopefully they will get on top of it immediately. If I hadn't checked back today, I wouldn't have known that the report wasn't there for almost 15 days when I called back to check why no one had talked to me.

It doesn't pay to now stay on top of EVERYTHING.

I am exhausted & it's only 9am,
Debbie

[(JD)]

Call the pawn shops for the flute. And the music stores.

[eskielover]

That's on my list to do asap. The pawn shops have to hold anything that comes in for 2 weeks before putting it available for sale.....I already started to call them the next morning. I have the phone book I took from the hotel room, so have the list of 12/13 shops....police also suggested doing that.

I am trying so hard not to let my husband keep pushing my buttons right now. He has been a horrible person since I got home....& while I was gone, did nothing to help get anything packed so I could load up & go back to KY in a few weeks. I don't know what I'm going to do right now about that......

I just feel so sick right now, I don't know where to turn or what to do....helpless with the moving situation & my plans.....I have myself closed up in my room right now....exhausted & so frustrated because anytime I get close to him, he sets me off & I really loose it.

I have to focus on the theft right now & he is no help at all...just lays around doing nothing. He kept telling my psychologist that he isn't depressed, & yet, he tells me that he was so depressed while I was gone that he couldn't do anything....contradictions from the word go.

I can't believe how much I hate this person I have been with for over 32 years.....it just isn't a healthy feeling.

My psychologist in is Isreal for the next month, & I have only been in contact with him over the phone since I left California in Oct......luckily, I just talked to a licensed Clinical Social Worker that is taking on any of his emergencies.....I ended up being one of those, so she is going to schedule an appointment with me for Monday......

I feel like my whole world is spinning around in circles & all I want to do is escape right now

Debbie

[Perna]

Good for you getting an appointment with your stand-in T. I was going to recommend you get some rest somehow. Any friends still left in California so you can get out of the house and blow off some steam without your husband? He does sound like he's being a jerk.

[eskielover]

How crazy can this be.....I was trying to update that little mood icon & I just couldn't decide between aggrivated, angry, annoyed, anxious, confused, crappy, crushed, crying, depressed, determined, disappointed, distressed, drained, enraged, exhausted, frustrated, gloomy, grateful, guilty, hopeful, impressed, infuriated, irate, irritated, nauseated, nervous, numb, optimistic, restless, sad, scared, shocked, sick, stressed, thankful, tired, touched, worried......oh my gosh.......I'm sure there are even some that aren't listed that apply.

My insides are so churning around, I don't know which end is up....& I still have so many more insurance forms to fill in.

Top that off, before I left Kentucky, I didn't have time to go to the post office to have my mail forwarded & my computer was broken so I couldn't do it online & they wouldn't do it over the phone. I called my husband to ask him to take care of it. I found out over 1 week later that he didn't bother to take care of it. I have bills sitting in my mailbox in Kentucky.

He said he was having problems getting to the online site to make the change. He could have gone to the post office because he was 3 hours earlier than I am in Kentucky.....but NOOOOOOOOO. He couldn't do that....& he completely forgot about it. He sits on his rear all day, doing nothing except letting the dogs out for potty walks.....& he was just to tied up to take care of something so important. I can trust my friend in Kentucky that I just met to take care of important things more than I can trust my husband of 32 years.

Steam if coming out of my ears....my eyes are seeing red. I would just love to deck this guy, but wouldn't touch him in reality.....doesn't mean I wouldn't love to let him have it at times like this. He knows all the buttons to push & he's so nice about it while he's being mean.....& he wonders why I won't open my door to have he come to Kentucky with me????? How stupid can he be????

I still have one more lead to figure out. They opened an account at People PC Internet service & they sat up an email account that they were using to get shipping confirmation from the transactions they did with my credit card. I have to see if there is anything on that email account & if there is anyone accessing it???? The first time I called People PC, I got some guy with an accent from India....total jerk that just didn't understand what I was telling him. That jerk sent me on to someone else who just couldn't get it through his head that my card had been stolen & the account set up. Interestingly enough, they had my California address & date of birth & my cell phone #. I remember that the guy at the motel check in, took my drivers license to verify Identity. Then they asked for my cell phone # the next morning after my truck was broken into so they could contact me if anything came up......gee, wonder where they got the date of birth & California home address & phone #???? How many of the people working at the motel are involved in this?????

Really starting to wonder even more about that motel 6.....warning warning.....do not stay at the MOTEL 6 in Albequerque at 5701 Iliff NW at Coors. They really have to have something going there......& customer relations wondered why I didn't call the Motel 6 to report the information......like talking to the fox in the hen house?????

I am starting the calling of the pawn shops today.....am sure they won't provide me much information right now......but the police detective told me that I should start calling them now.....with that direction, maybe they will cooperate with me more than otherwise.

If all I had to stress me was the theft of my flute & jewelry & the ID theft....that would be enough......add a husband who won't cooperate with anything to the picture & I'm ready to explode......he was the one that did the filing of information in the house & now he has boxed up information. He can't find the appraisal on my flute not the initial invoice. He might have thrown it away because is was so old.....then he never called the insurance company to see if they have a copy since it was for the rider that in on my home owners policy. This was all supposed to be done while I was on my way home......& he still refuses to continue to look for it. Oh for just a little cooperation on his part......& all I get is a fight , excuses, & arguments. I am exhausted. It is much better in life when you don't have anyone to think you can depend on....then you know you have to do it all yourself. I should know by now that I shouldn't even try to depend on this jerk......why can't I learn after 32 years....how stupid can I be?????

Sorry for the rant.....just had to get it out before I blow up.
Debbie

[EJ711]

Debbie,

You know you can't rely on your husband to take care of things. He's just like my husband. He should be reliable, but he's not -- just like mine. We can count on both of them to aggravate us. How are his driving skills? You do need some protection going back across the country.

Why would you be aggravated? You have had a delightful cross-country trip. :roftl:

I would ask the pastor to send some trustworthy person out to your house to collect your mail.

I'm glad you are such a good sleuth. May I include your story in the mystery book I'm going to write one of these days?

Hugs,

EJ

[wickedwings]

so sorry, eskie. ((((hugs to you))))

[eskielover]

EJ,

You have my permission anytime to use all this for your mystery book.....lol......as the plot thickens.....or as the world turns......lol.

Wickedwings,

Thank you so much for your kind hugs......I can really use them right now......This has really effected me more that I ever could have imagined it would.

Have the pharmacy #'s to call around Albequerque because of the meds that were stolen & the refills that were on them....ones I never ended up using because the valium just doesn't work for me. Valium has a street value from what I have heard, so they might even try to get money that way.

I think that is what bothers me most is that there is so much unknown stuff that I had in the bag that I just threw in there to bring to California & sort through. I have no idea what they might try to use in the future if they aren't stopped & even if they are, who knows what they will keep tucked away for future use.

I keep realizing all the little irreplaceable things that were also in the bag...just stupid little things like an american eskimo key ring (keys that I don't know what they were for are also there). Beaded jewelry that I made myself & can never re-do because I took old jewelry apart to use for it. Also I had several awsome fish pendents that actually moved around.....I purchased them at a bead show I had gone to & will have a hard time finding anything like them in the future....maybe somewhere on the internet I can find them.

I am constantly realizing more & more just little things that I'm missing.....but who knows when my remembering will remember more valuable things. I have a horrible way of handling stress. My nausea gets so bad that I can't seem to eat anything.....I take a few bites & then just can't eat anymore food. End up feeling really sick from the stress. Add to that stress the stress of being back in California around my husband again.....what a mess.

I never seem to learn that I can't listen to what my husband says & trust him. He says things like he knows for a fact....I listen & trust....act on his information & get burned everytime. Just simple things like when the Post Office closes on Saturday so I could get my mail forwarded from Kentucky to California. I know I can do it online & will try again because that was unsucessful the last try....that was why I was going there in person.....to make sure the change was in before Monday. I don't know how to make myself stop trying to ask him for information & trusting the validity of the information. That is the reason I don't want him even around me because I keep being a fool....asking him something & trusting his information. He doesn't think that he doesn't know the answer.....he is so sure of himself & he is always wrong.....I am so stupid to continue to listen to him after 32 years, you would think I would know better. After it happens, I just keep kicking myself....realizing how stupid I am to listen to him.

I Can't take this crap!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to get back to Kentucky & away from here (& I just arrived here 3 days ago)....already going crazy. It just keeps reinforcing the fact that I can't stand to be around him

Debbie