Hi everyone, this might be a bit long, so please be patient. On Christmas Day, I woke up to emails saying I was approved for a Capital One platinum card. I also got an email saying my email address was changed to my actual one and another saying I had gone paperless. The thing is, I’ve never used Capital One and probably never will. I immediately called customer service to explain what happened. The representative confirmed that it looked like a card was opened in my name, but without any other personal details. She advised me on the next steps, which included freezing my credit and reporting identity theft to the FTC. She mentioned that Capital One would start an investigation into the fraud, so the account couldn’t be closed yet, but that the card would be locked and wouldn’t work.
Right after talking to that first representative on Christmas, I set up a fraud alert on my credit report through all three bureaus. I didn’t freeze my credit because I’m graduating soon and will be looking for new housing.
About a week later, I got another email saying my email had been changed again. I called Capital One just to check and the rep said they were removing my email from that account, meaning they were working on the investigation. He confirmed again that the card could not be used.
Today, I opened a package from my mom and found an envelope addressed to me that had been sent to my parents’ house. Inside was the Capital One credit card that all of this started with. I knew it was the same one because the last four digits matched the initial email. Back then, I didn’t know the full card number since I didn’t have an account with Capital One.
I quickly went to all three credit bureaus and froze my credit. However, I noticed when checking my credit reports that my mailing address was listed, along with my parents’ address and an extra phone number I didn’t recognize. I filed a dispute and managed to get both of those things changed.
Now my question is, what do I do next? I believe the credit card is locked, as Capital One has confirmed that twice already, but I might want to call them again just to be sure. Should I also inform them about the unknown phone number and the incorrect address on my report? So far, the Capital One card hasn’t shown up on my credit report, but my score has dropped by about 10 points since all of this began (possibly even before).
I recommend freezing your credit immediately. You can unfreeze it online in a few minutes when you need it (like when getting a mortgage). Leaving your report unfrozen, even just for a couple of months, can lead to a lot of issues. If you haven’t done this yet, request a copy of all three credit reports and review them carefully.
You absolutely should have your credit frozen. It takes only about 10 minutes to unfreeze it when you’re applying for a mortgage or anything else. A lot can go wrong in just a few months.
Slate said:
You absolutely should have your credit frozen. It takes only about 10 minutes to unfreeze it when you’re applying for a mortgage or anything else. A lot can go wrong in just a few months.
10 minutes? Are you saying that applies to all three bureaus or just one? It takes me a second to unfreeze at the click of a button.
Slate said:
You absolutely should have your credit frozen. It takes only about 10 minutes to unfreeze it when you’re applying for a mortgage or anything else. A lot can go wrong in just a few months.
To freeze my credit, I need to have an account with one of the bureaus, right? But when I try to create an account, it says it costs $30 a month. Am I doing something wrong or should I just pay that cost?
@SophyGenesis
There are two options: a freeze and a lock. The bureaus must allow you to freeze your credit for free. A lock usually has added services but go for the free freeze.
@SophyGenesis
You’re probably choosing the paid option. It often looks like you must select the paid feature, but be careful what you click on. I just set mine up two weeks ago.
@SophyGenesis
Look carefully; you can visit each bureau’s site directly for a free freeze. Sites like annualcreditreport.com let you check your reports for free every 7 days.
You might want to contact the credit bureaus and officially report the fraudulent account. Don’t just set alerts or freeze credit; make sure they know about this specific account until they confirm it’s resolved. They should already know if Capital One does their job, but it doesn’t hurt to follow up. Also, when you call Capital One again, let them know about the additional card and the address/phone number discrepancies. Make sure to get confirmation in writing for whatever actions they take. I prefer having a physical letter rather than relying on a phone call.
@Grier
Oh, I just remembered—ask them about free identity monitoring. Some banks offer this when fraud is involved, which could help if it is indeed identity theft. Most Capital One accounts come with a free version, but since you say you don’t have a relationship with them, I’m not sure how that applies.
If you want to handle it on your own, here’s a useful link about spotting identity theft to look out for:
Social security is one of the least secure things to rely on. All you can do is keep monitoring your credit and report any fraudulent activity. If it gets too bad, you can request a new number from Social Security. Generally, if you stay alert and shut down any fraud quickly, they usually won’t try again. Most fraudsters want to create multiple accounts to drain your credit, but if you stay vigilant, it should work out over time.
Credit cards usually don’t show up on your report immediately. They generally appear after a month when the credit card company reports your first statement balance.
Your score might have dropped due to the inquiry made when applying for the card. I’ve heard Capital One typically checks more than one bureau, so you might see this reflected across all of them.
I’m really sorry this is happening. Keep your credit reports frozen and only unfreeze them when needed, then refreeze quickly.
I suggest changing your email password and perhaps considering a new email altogether. I was hacked once and lost a lot of crypto because of it. Now, I avoid linking my cards to any online platforms. Make sure to add two-factor authentication (2FA) to all your accounts moving forward. It will require a text, an app, or other verification to change anything or gain access.
Even with fraud alerts or freezes, they’ll confirm it’s really you by asking personal questions, and they will confirm the alerts. I’ve found this process to be very secure.