Privacy or Wha?

In October, I had my wallet stolen while at Walmart. Yes...I said Walmart. I never go there - Brian and I have had a "unless without other option" standpoint of the place (sometimes in Tawas, it's our only option, but that is rare). Anyways, I went there for one thing I knew they had - because I didn't want to drive all over town...and wouldn't you know - someone enjoyed using our credit cards/debit cards for the next few hours while I was blissfully unaware. I didn't even hear the credit card companies calling the house because I was enjoying the sunshine outside with a friend. So, the rest of the day was filled with calling all the companies, reissuing cards, changing accounts, etc. I even went and got a new driver's license...only to discover a few days later that my license was actually at the bottom of my diaper bag. (figures!)

OK - that wasn't great. I felt a bit of comfort knowing the "perp" (that's for Dawn) didn't have my license. So, aside from my name and my fuzzy photo on my Costco card, he/she/it didn't know anything about me. [Darn, I just realized there were a few photos of Isaac in there]

The police officer said, chances are, the "perp" was watching out for someone, just like me. A distracted mom with 2 kids. It made me feel so naive....but he was right. I was a TOTALLY distracted mom with 2 kids. Anyone who has been shopping with Isaac can understand how that would happen!!!

Fast forward to Nov 15th. I get a call from the bank asking me to verify a check coming through one of our accounts. Instantly, my heart sank. This particular account isn't one we use much - so I am pretty much the only one who ever writes checks from it...and most certainly not checks that clear all except 9.17 from the account. And it wasn't 100 bucks, I'll tell you that.

Now I am creeped out.

See....ok - I can accept that account numbers get taken. It doesn't take more than a real routing number and some lucky guessing to hit on a real account - I am sure. But..what bothered me was - this forged check was written out to someone in GR...AND the fact that it literally cleared our account. I am surprised the teller even cashed the check - since it didn't take a rocket scientist to know the issuing bank has changed names (at least 5 years ago!) - but cash it, they did. Did they somehow gain access to our account to know? Was that just a lucky guess too? I am going to say probably not. Now, do they know where I live? My husband's name? And, just out of curiosity - I type the name of the person that was on the check into google? Where does he show up? Same address as on the forged check. Has facebook account. Right there. All sorts of information. It dawned on me, finding info about me probably isn't that hard either. Granted, this person may not be the person who actually did it - but well....if they aren't smart enough...possibly it is.

Thankfully, through the whole process, all the banks/companies have been really great - we now have credit alerts our credit reports, all the money is back where it should be....but the fact still remains...that person knew too much about us. That person gained access to our account - somehow.

So - I went and tightened up my facebook account. If it's the same person, I didn't want him knowing details of my distracted daily life. I've debated making this more private too - but I am not sure I put much on here that is going to tell anyone something about me - especially since I post so far past events, it's not like they are going to know when I am home or not...but...egh.... just bothersome. The whole ordeal.

So....not that it's Walmart's fault...but I think I will pass on going there next time.