I use an email alias system to create a unique email address every time I sign up for a site.

Today, I started receiving unusual email on one of those addresses. My credit card provider also let me know that someone was trying to use my credit card to book airfare. I know exactly which site my data leaked from since I used a unique email alias to register for that site. I contacted that site and told them they’ve been breached.

I also called my credit card company. They’re reversing the charge and issuing me a new card.

I’m still worried because I’m receiving lots of “here’s your login code” and “new user registration” emails at the alias address. I can just kill the alias and I won’t receive these messages again, but I’m interested in seeing what they’re up to. Can these messages still be used for nefarious purposes? I obviously don’t click links in any emails I don’t recognize, and access to my main email account is secured behind three-factor authentication, so I don’t see how someone would actually be able to retrieve one of these login codes.

Since the genius who used my credit card number tried to book a flight, I also have her name and a 50-50 shot at her location. Should I report her to local authorities?

I’m in the US.

  • jqubed@lemmy.world
    2·
    12 days ago

    You should file a police report or a report at IdentityTheft.gov. Give as many details as you can, but also recognize as another commenter mentioned that the names you’re seeing are probably also stolen identities. This almost certainly won’t result in any real action unless an investigator can tie enough cases together to identify a suspect. The main reason to do this is you can then go to the credit reporting agencies and place a fraud alert on your records, which should require anyone opening a credit account for you to do extra verification that you’re actually requesting it. If you don’t have a formal report that request only stays active for 1 year but with a formal report they’ll keep it active for 7 years, or at least that was the case a few years ago. You should also freeze your credit report if you haven’t already, which will make it inaccessible to anyone who would want to read it, such as a potential lender. It does become a slight pain to unfreeze it anytime you’re actually applying for credit, but makes it extremely difficult for anyone else to successfully apply for credit in your name.

  • Phen@lemmy.eco.br
    0·
    12 days ago

    Careful about reversing charges with large companies like Google and Amazon if there’s any. If you dispute a charge from Amazon they may wipe away every account that ever used that card - even if you didn’t dispute any charge related to that account.