Third Step: Consult the All Mighty Google

     Having followed the steps provided by Discover and not really getting any further down the path I did what everyone does when they have a question that need to be answered consult the Google for my next steps. Rapidly scanning through everything from FTC.gov to countless adds for credit monitoring and identity theft prevention services it became apparent that for basic information I do not have to pay for a credit report from each of the bureaus, but in order to have the data consolidated you need to shell out some money.
    
     The next several hours I spent researching all of my different options and I have to admit that finding any reliable feedback on any of them was very challenging. The review sites that I found from google were divided between sites that did a good job trying to make them seem impartial, but if you read through all of the sites' reviews none of them had anything to really say and were just blatant affiliate sites trying to make money, to the obvious sites that might as well have just been run by the vendor themselves.  If you search on any of the actual companies you will mainly find news articles about how much of a rip-off each service is which is most likely true, but like any other review on the web you have to figure in the simple fact that they wrote the review was because they were angry about something and there is always a disproportionate number of angry motivated people then happy motivated people.
    
     Despite this being the most time intensive exercise it did yield some of the most valuable information and at least gave me my next steps of contacting all of the credit bureaus to file fraud alert to and then getting a full credit report from all three bureaus and reviewing any recent inquires or new accounts on my report.

Task Completed:

1. Placed Fraud Alert on my Trans Union credit report
2. Called local police to start the process of filing a police report
3. Researched google to figure out next step 

Second Step: File Police Report

     The second step as instructed by Sandy from Discover was to file a police report. I was hoping that this step would leave me with a more positive feeling than calling TransUnion, as that did nothing much except prepare me for the blatant profiteering in the identity theft prevention industry. Not to spoil the rest of step two, but lets just say it didn't or it hasn't.
    
     Feeling utterly disgusted from my call to TransUnion I needed to have that address or some way to start tracking the unsub (Criminal Minds) so I started by calling my local police department. I looked up the directory and while they have tons of tips on how to prevent identity theft there is no, "Call this number to file a report" which would be a nice to have in all that information, but maybe I just missed it. I called the main number and told them what Discover told me to do. The operator asked me where did the identity theft take place? I understand that that is a standard question, but I had just told her that someone applied for a credit card in my name so how in the world would I know where it happened. Discover would not give me any address so as far as I know it could have happened anywhere. Fortunately my need for information trumped my ever present sarcasm and I played along and ended up being transferred to the local zone where I live.
    
     Like shampoo (wash, rinse, repeat) I am replaying the story to be asked the same question about where it happened, only to be put on hold for a few minutes while I am assuming they were trying to figure out what to do with me. The operator returned and informed me that I would be contact by an officer over the phone to take a report within the next 24 to 48 hrs. Not wanting to argue with someone that obviously had little to do with that decision, I gave them my contact information.
    
     We are approaching 24hrs and I have not heard from anyone nor from my further research do I expect to get a great deal of information or even have them investigate it. I will update post when I hear back from them....

Task Completed:

1. Placed Fraud Alert on my TransUnion credit report
2. Called local police to start the process of filing a police report

Background:

      My name is Bradley Dick and yesterday I found out that my indentity had been stolen. At 4:24pm yesterday my wife received a call from Discover that they need to speak to me about an application that appeared to be fraudulent. They would only speak to me so my wife emailed me the contact information and the case number. Being the security conscious individual I consulted the all might Google to see if the number they left is legit and I also call discover fraud directly and they validated it was their new card fraud department. Since I did a search on google and just about everyone that had a post about this number thought it was a scam, I can assure you that 1-800-347-3072 is a real Discover card fraud number so it is legit.
     I called the number and was able to speak to someone rather quickly. Her name was Sandy and she was helpful. The reference number they left for my wife was not valid so they looked it up by my name and the last 4 of my social. They verified that someone had applied for a Discover Card but did not use my home address so it was flagged and denied. She refused to give me the address that was used or any of the information but gave me a number and told me that law enforcement would be able to get the information. Despite every attempt she was not going to give me the information and make my search easy but at least she gave me the next step in the puzzle down the proverbial rabbit hole to my own private wonderland. This is where my story begins