Carly's Ramblings Blog - Style

Identity Theft Leaves You Vulnerable

Blog Week Birthday Bastion 2024

Prompt 2. Sept 2.
Tell us about an earthshaking Life-or-Death situation in your life. What happened, how did it change you, if at all?

I live a pretty sedate life. Nothing really earthshattering or Life-or Death situations in my life. I could make one up, but that wouldn't seem authentic. I do worry though.

One thing that did happen earlier this year that changed my ability to trust is having my car broken into while on a hike with my client on January 4 of this year. They broke my driver's side window and got into the trunk to take my backpack. My life was in that backpack. I didn't want to take it on the talk because it was far too heavy. In that backpack was my laptop and my book of passwords. Yes, I was stupid enough to have them with me.

And from this identity theft was rampant. Not right away, of course. I had a couple of weeks to think all was okay and then BAM! I had to scramble to secure my financial accounts, my cell phone and change any passwords before I lost them.

Getting my cell phone back was paramount as some of my accounts have multi-authentication. Apparently the people who stole my stuff were able to walk into a TELUS store and put a new Sim card into another phone - that simple. It took me all weekend - From Friday to Sunday to re-secure my account and get my cell phone back into my name. They did not even have my actual cell phone. They didn't get my wallet either. but I had to cancel cards and get new ones issues to make sure all was secure. I had to do my Mastercard twice. The Bank of Montreal was not helpful at first because I was not able to cancel my card due to them doing some servicing of there own. I got the call back in a couple of hours.... it was already after 1 am when I called and get through the first time!

It is September now and I am still trying to get my Microsoft account, Google Accounts and Amazon account back. My Microsoft account has been seen on the Dark Web and without that account I am finding it difficult to secure many of my accounts.

I can get Facebook and Instagram on my phone but I don't know the passwords to get access on any other device. I also have found proving who you are is far more difficult that I realized. Finding the phone numbers to reach the right people who can help has been a huge stressor.

The thing is, you think you got a handle on things and then you realize you really don't. Earlier this winter I was lucky enough to have an LTO so my school board organized to pay my teaching membership. I still need to secure that account so I can pay my membership dues for the upcoming year.

Losing my One Drive and all my things in there has been hard. Not having Word has made it impossible to upload an updated resume to my Apply to Education account - which thankfully is attached to my work stuff that didn't get affected - once I got my new pass card and other devise to get logged into my work accounts. Yes, they got stolen, too.

So is this life-or-death? Not really, but it has thrown a wrench into my life. One I don't need when I am also dealing with an aging parent who is now dealing with dementia and alcohol issues.

All of this has been a blow to my writing. My novel was on my One Drive. I still have Scrivener, but so does the stolen computer. So I am wary of using it. I don't have my Medium account which had blogs I wanted to compile into a book. I don't have Plottr which I have a lifetime membership to... the whole thing is frustrating and draining. So often I just want to escape and bury my head in the sand. But I can't. It's my identity and I need to get it back and secured. If I don't I feel vulnerable like never before.

Word Count = 683.