Is this a hoax?

[SusanL]

Our mortgage company sent us a letter stating that a computer was being shipped to another facility and did not reach its final destination. They believe it was stolen for the hardware not for the information on it. Therefore, they are offering us a free one year subscription to an identity guard protection service. Our mortgage is for 27 years, when I called 4 different numbers to talk to a supervisor, I got only "We are so sorry." Is this a hoax? Has this happened to anyone else?

[Kathy B]

I would be suspicious. If it were me, I would call the Attorney General's Office for your state and ask them about it. They are very much concerned with protecting consumers, and if they can't help you, I would bet they can point you to someone who can.

[gertdog]

Is your mortgage company Wells Fargo? Ours is, and we just got the same letter. It's legitimate. It was in our local paper last week.

Wells Fargo computer theft story (http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-3/114792800099310.xml&coll=1)

[Andrea_2]

I think I'd be more suspicious if they were trying to SELL you a subscription to their identity guard protection service.

[SusanL]

it is Wells Fargo, I am printing out the article from your paper for DH. This was ruining our weekend, but I won't let it! Hopefully we can change mortgage companies?!

[Robyn1007]

it is Wells Fargo, I am printing out the article from your paper for DH. This was ruining our weekend, but I won't let it! Hopefully we can change mortgage companies?!

While I'm glad you were able to figure out that the letter is legitimate, I have to ask, why do you feel the need based on something that is no fault of the bank, to change mortgage companies? It seems to me that they are doing what then can to protect you. Or, maybe there is something else involved? I've been a customer (though not mortgage) of Wells Fargo for over a decade and though there have been issues at times, they have always done everthing I've asked to rectify the situation.

[Lrimerman]

Changing mortgage companies won't solve the immediate problem that you have which is that your personal info may be in the hands of theives. If they use the info for identity theft, having a new mortagage company will just make things even more complicated in the long run.

Just keep on top of your credit reports and make sure there is no suspicious activity.

Lisa

[jmarie]

why do you feel the need based on something that is no fault of the bank, to change mortgage companies

Yes, I was going to suggest that the damage has been done on that end, that you might want to beef things up about what you can do from this point on about protecting your identity.

Although, I'm thinking is that since it is their problem, that they give you protection for more than a year.

We all are at risk for this type of thing happening and we need to gather our tools, now, rather than wait until it is too late, in my thinking.

Good luck!
Joyce

[Gumbeaux]

Is this the letter?

http://www.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2003/11/21/mn_lazarus21.jpg

[ClaraB]

Yup, we got one of those a few years ago from W-F. It makes me wonder if they don't have security issues, since their computers keep getting stolen :( . I don't know of any other banks that have had this happen so often.

[gertdog]

Is this the letter?


No- at least, it isn't the letter I received. The one DH and I got was just a week ago, and was about a single computer that had been stolen while being transported by a third-party shipping company. But it's possible that the letter you posted is related to an earlier theft at WF- the newspaper article said it was the third time in less than three years they've had a theft occur.

[KristaMB]

Our mortgage company is not Wells Fargo, but we received a similar letter not too long ago about a computer that was being shipped by DHL but was lost in transit. Our mortgage company offered us the free credit reports as well. A few weeks later we were notified that the computer had been found in the original packaging at a DHL facility, but we are still taking advantage of the free credit reports. Unfortunately, I think that these things just happen. I certainly understand your frustration with Wells Fargo, though. It seems that they've had more than their fair share of security concerns.

[mbrogier]

There's a new website for checking out hoaxes.

www.toogoodtobetrue.org

[blazedog]

It's increasingly common as it happened to me about a year ago as a computer with sensitive data was stolen/last containing HR information for a company I had worked for more than 10 years ago.

They gave me the one year subscription to Equifax and luckily my identity wasn't worth stealing because nothing exciting ever pops up on the blip.

All kidding aside, one year is adequate because if someone is going to do something with the data, they would act within a one year period.

[RobinC]

I got a letter recently from the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) that said they lost a hard drive with member data while it was being shipped somewhere. They gave some info about credit reporting agencies and said affected members get a year of free credit reporting. I tend to believe this really happened and the letter I received was from the AICPA.

Here's the AICPA web site about it. http://www.aicpa.org/privacyinfo/synopsis.htm

[Cinnamon Crazy]

I got a letter recently from the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) that said they lost a hard drive with member data while it was being shipped somewhere. They gave some info about credit reporting agencies and said affected members get a year of free credit reporting. I tend to believe this really happened and the letter I received was from the AICPA.

Here's the AICPA web site about it. http://www.aicpa.org/privacyinfo/synopsis.htm

I received the same letter and plan to sign up for the service right away. At least agencies like the AICPA and Wells Fargo are being proactive and notifying members. But I definitely wish they can be more careful with sensitive data. The AICPA letter clearly states that the hard drive was shipped out by an employee who didn't follow internal control procedures.

Anna