Sorry I missed your post as I was so stressed out on my own project. Did you get a hold of the 3 credit company to report this? Depending on the State you live in, you may request a credit freeze. This way no one can ever open credit without you entering your 10 digit passcode.
I had a similar incident except that someone tried to take a cash advance of $10k from my visa but the visa company caught the behavior of the acitivity and refused the transaction.

Take it easy and I hope everything will resolve soon.

Do gas stations have video surveillance of at the pump transactions?

Yes, Sylvia and others, I attached a Fraud Alert to my credit report with the 3 credit boards and cancelled every other card I remember having. I just hope this is the end of it and that "they" threw the rest of my wallet in the trash.

It struck me funny at the DMV today when filling out paperwork to get a duplicate drivers' license...they needed to know if I wanted on the organ donor list. Sure, why not, somebody already has everything else of mine anyway.

teedup-- so sorry to hear about your humongous pain and losses. Here in San Jose (CA,) when you use a credit card at the gas station you have to enter your zip too. But when I was visiting family in Oregon this was not the case. Of course, this has nothing to do with getting your life back. I hope all your efforts go smoothly, especially the dmv!

I've had to deal with a few credit card frauds in the past; the visa people told me that stolen cards very often are used first thing for gas so the thieves can see if the card is still active and unreported.

I look at my credit card statements on line a few times a week ; a quick glance tells me if everything is ok. Even with your card safely tucked in your wallet, your number could still be used by thieves on line ; anyone can copy your number and expiry date and then try to use it on line.

Last year, someone purchased an airline ticket with my number; by the time I spotted it and reported it, the trip was done; they used a bogus address. I found out that air canada only does a random spot check verification of home address, info, etc.. vs credit card number on online bookings so they were liable for the fraud.

I highly recommend verifying your accounts on line so fraud can be reported faster if you notice something irregular.

I've had my card declined a number of times in the past, and always because the card company thought that a purchase looked statistically suspicious. Even when it was a charge of mine, a legitimate charge, I haven't minded.

Here's a handy thing to do, just in case. If you have a scanner or a copier, lay out all of your credit cards and scan them, then flip them over and scan the backs. You'll have a record of all of your numbers and the 800 numbers associated with them, and you won't miss any if you need to cancel them.

Ugh, teedup1, I SOOO feel your pain. Last summer someone smashed the window on my suv to steal our DVD player while we were on vacation. DH had forgotten that he had a travel wallet full of seldom used credit cards. Like Rooms To Go and Pier One and Banana Republic. I could just picture someone sitting in a newly furnished home with an eclectic decor and fancy new duds. Thankfully our cash and regular credit cards and personal ids weren't involved. But still, trying to remember exactly what WAS in there and call all those credit companies from the road (not to mention driving to Cape Cod with plastic over my window and dealing with 3 kids and no DVD player) was a very stressful highlight to our "New England or Bust" vacation. No, we weren't very smart about leaving that stuff in the car but it wasn't something we'd normally do. Just dealing with three kids on a 12 day road trip can be a little distracting. Now we can look back and laugh at parts of it (flapping plastic at 70mph from New Jersey to Cape Cod) but the rest of it still angers me.

Hope it all works out for you. And I hope you get a new Starbuck's card in your Christmas stocking this year!

Robin

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I know how you feel, too, as I had my purse stolen from my car last year. It was unlocked because we were standing 50 yards away and I just never thought anything like that would happen. Learned my lesson. The thief drove straight to my bank and wrote a check on my account. We were fortunate that I went back to the van to look for something and noticed my purse missing pretty much right away. We made a police report and called our bank to freeze our account...I wasn't carrying any credit cards. The loser also grabbed my makeup bag with all my makeup so I had to run around town the next day taking care of everything without my "face" on until I could replace it. Just added insult to injury for me. I also discovered they had used some minutes on my calling card so I called people just to use up the rest of it. Luckily I had that number memorized. Overall my loss wasn't great but it's the hassle and the violation that really got to me. I just hated the idea that someone had my things...my purse that was a gift, my makeup, my driver's license, etc.

It sounds like you're doing all the right things to protect yourself...hang in there!

Here's another scam that was taking place at the beach. Thieves broke into cars and looked for wallets (there's a very good chance of finding them in cars parked at the beach). They would slip a credit card out and replace the wallet so it looks like nothing was taken during the break-in. The unsuspecting victim has no idea that the card was stolen since the wallet is still there and they don't notice the theft until they have to use the card again. Scary, right?

I am currently going through this sort of thing because someone lifted my number and somehow got my old address to boot and has been using my Debit card which is still in my possession. Personally I think it is part of the TJ MAXX phiasco because I have done a lot of business with Homegoods etc. all under that same umbrella. I have a new debit card now, but it is still such a hassle and so upsetting.