On 8 April, I had my identity stolen. Admittedly, with my unsuspecting help. I received a couple of texts from “goldmansachsfd” wanting to know if two charges to my Apple card were mine, press 1 or not, press 2 and an Apple Representative would soon be with me. Silly me, I pressed 2. A couple minutes later, Morrice Paul, Apple Representative called me. According to him, someone bought my iPhone11 (traded in a year or more ago), hacked into it, and got all my personal info. Yeah, right. I lost my email, my phone #, my iCloud account, my sanity, and who knows what else.

Kudos of the highest order to the manager of the Spokane Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU), the guys in the Apple Store in Spokane, and the guys in my Kennewick Verizon store. A lot of heartache, a lot of information overload, a prescription for anti-depressants that made me suicidal, a prescription for an anti-anxiety which worked properly, and now a freaking croupy cough for no known reason I can figure out, but I’m coming back. I have my original email and phone number back, and that’s a biggie.

BECU caught the fraud way before I did, and locked my accounts. When I went to Spokane so I could prove I actually am who I say I am, I had all new accounts waiting for me. And help on next steps. (The Spokane branch is the nearest one to me, a 2 hour drive vs 2.5 to Issaquah!)

The guys at the Apple Store helped me get my email back and the guys at my Verizon store managed to get my phone # back. 

I have spent days talking/visiting/calling companies—when I could think. Some I could actually get past the AI and talk to a real human—or at least a more intelligent AI. The one I really dreaded was going to the Social Security Office. Had to go in person to give them my new checking account numbers for my direct deposit. I had no appointment, so just had to wait my turn (what a concept, eh?). The people were polite, friendly, humorous, professional, and fast. Easy peasy. Great kudos to the Kennewick SS Office. I assume DOGE didn’t know how to either pronounce, nor find, Kennewick, and left them alone.

From what I’m hearing, it will take something like 2-3 months before I will know if I have my life back. I can see why the hackers wanted my email and phone, and I’m ecstatic I got them back when I did. He went to my Pay Pal account, using my name &c, got them to send everything to him, not me. But because I got my email back, I got that stopped. I also got his ‘alleged’ name, email, and address, which I turned over to my Police Department, and every fraud dept I talked to. And my Favorite Daughter has been a huge support. She came over and helped me fill out an online federal form. Believe me, I was in such information overload I couldn’t do it on my own.

Bought $23.00 of groceries, and my new pin wouldn’t work on my new debit card. I put my groceries back on the counter, with tears running down my checks, and said I’d be back later, wondering how I would pay for my prescriptions, etc. The checker called me back, placed my groceries in my cart and send me on my way. He bought them. All I could think of during all this is, this is how homeless people must feel, when they first become homeless. I went home, called Favorite Daughter, she met me at the store, I got there earlier and asked for the manager, told him what a hero I thought Wes was, and the whole story. He called Wes over, and told him what a hero he thought Wes was, that we was looking after the community, etc. and so on. Between us, we managed to embarrass Wes no end. Then when I got home I called Corporate HQ to tell them the story, and get Wes some Corporate Recognition. Favorite Daughter paid Wes for me, and for my prescriptions, and loaned me enough to get by on. I have good kids! And I now have a pin my debit card recognizes

All of the people I’ve talked to, have been most helpful and sympathetic, from the ladies at SSENSE (pronounced Essence) and Nordstrom and Gucci, to the people at Paypal, USAA, Pay One, Synchrony Bank, and all the others I can only say, Many, Many Thank Yous for your help, your understanding, your empathy.

Of course, I wouldn’t wish having one’s identity stolen on anyone, but it has renewed my faith in my fellow Americans. From people in various fraud departments to Wes, Hero Checker at Safeway. Well, maybe I’d wish it on the yahoo who decided electronic forms need those damnable drop-downs for states, and other things, instead of giving the option to type it in. Naw, I can’t even wish it on them. But Karma’s a bitch, and she’ll get the ones who steal identities as a way to make money. Oh, yeah, she will.

Lesson Learned: If I ever again get a text or email that wants me to click a link for any reason, and I’m not absolutely positive it’s legit, before I do, I’ll go to the www and call the company using the phone number on their website. 

And for John, who misses my photos:

first tulip of spring.