Hi, I need to speak to Kelly Bejelly.. This is the fraud department

So on Thursday I got a phone call from my bank's fraud department wanting to verify if I had made a purchase online for $800. Oh, Hell NO!

I spent the next hour and a half calling the fraud department, calling my bank directly (only to find out the fraud department had yet to close my account.. which freaked me out and made me think that they were a fraud - it was not - I did get my account closed), and then calling the online merchant and speaking to a manager who, although was helpful, couldn't do jack and would not cancel the charges because "If we do that, then it's like no crime is committed". When I filed my police report later the officer let me know that that was incorrect and that a crime was committed the minute a person tried to use my card. On a side note it made me wonder why the merchant would not cancel the charges, I mean, who's going to ending up paying? I figured they still get the money and my bank's insurance covers the charges so it's not in their best interest to not make a sale. I digress. . . .

After the phone calls I left work and headed to my bank branch and signed an affidavit stating I did not make the charges and was told that they can't do anything until the money clears and that it will take 4 - 10 business days to be placed back into my new account. Yippee! Not only does someone steal my money, I get to wait for up to two weeks to get it back! Fun Fun.

This has made me consider ways I can protect myself in the future. 1, I am going to start using cash only 2) I am putting all future online purchases onto a credit card (which I will pay off before interest accrues) so my bank account is not tied up and 3) I signed up for identity theft protection

Some tips on how to recover from identity theft:

1) Place a fraud alert on your credit report -
A fraud alert will prevent any new accounts from being opened. You only need to contact one of the consumer reporting agencies as they are required to report this to the other two.

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

When you place a fraud alert on your file you are entitled to one free credit report. Review your report and note any companies that inquired on your report that you have not contacted. If you find fraudulent information get it removed.

2) Close the accounts that you know or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. -

Call and speak to the fraud department of each company. Follow up in writing and include copies of supporting documentation. Send all correspondence by certified mail.

3) File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission

4) File a report with your local police fraud department

Check out the Federal Trade Commission's website for more information.