turnstiles Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Hey guys, I had my friend over today to do an episode of my podcast. I thought he sounded like a dick so I told him to listen to it before I posted it. So I gave it to him on a flash drive I hadn't used in a while. He calls me when he gets back to his place to tell me that he somehow lost the flash drive in the 6 miles between our apartments. I suddenly remembered that the last time I used that flash drive was when I applied to a juvenile detention center. The background check for that was extensive and I had all the completed PDFs on that flash drive. So, the flash drive with all my information, social, previous addresses, mothers maiden name, date of birth, is lost. I'm freaking out and I'm looking for help/advice. Has anyone been a victim of identity fraud? I have pretty decent credit and that's about all I have right now. So I'm super concerned. Am I just being paranoid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HybridxReality Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 How much of a friend is this guy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turnstiles Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 How much of a friend is this guy? Good friend, decently forgetful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youspinmeround Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 The person who finds this is going to actually give 2 shits to see what is on it and than actually know what to do with the info. The odds are very very low With that said, how did you your buddy lose this? This doesnt seem very likely either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HybridxReality Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Well, in case his story is real and he did just lose this, that's not exactly good either as it could fall into the wrong hands. I'd say tell him to try and find it and monitor your bank account and such. That's what I would do. If he is a good friend, then I think you'll be okay. But doesn't hurt to be careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebilljim Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 90% chance that whoever finds the thumb drive (if anyone) barely looks at what's on it before formatting it to use themselves. Like others have said, be cautious, but I don't think this is a total catastrophe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shitty Rambo Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Was this data present on the device or did you 'delete' it prior? Your average Joe isn't going to know how to recover deleted content from an unformatted storage device. If it is still present, best case scenario they'll contact you or just delete it and use if for porn gifs or whatever. Worst case scenario, they sell your info on the deep web and you'll be screwed. I wouldn't count on the latter. Either way use this as a learning experience. Hard wipe portable storage with utilities like CCleaner! Also take solace knowing you're social security number is probably already on file at several data scrapping companies for ad focusing, just like the rest of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turnstiles Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 Thanks for the advice. I realize it is a small possibility that someone actually uses it for identity theft. The files were not blatant, but they were present on the drive with titles like 'background check' and 'completed CMS profile' so they would have to be super curious and skim past the Louie CK live videos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turnstiles Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 With that said, how did you your buddy lose this? This doesnt seem very likely either That's the thing, I have no idea how he lost it. He walked a mile to the train, took the train for 4 stops, then got off the train and walked across the street to his apartment. He said he stood up on the train so it couldn't have slipped out. He said the only thing that was missing from his pocket when he got home was the flash drive. He said he had 2 lighters, his cigarettes, his hitter box, wallet and phone. Only thing missing was the flash drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebilljim Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 How likely is it that he's just lying to cover up that he doesn't want to/didn't listen to the podcast? mssskat184 and danthemjfan23 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turnstiles Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 How likely is it that he's just lying to cover up that he doesn't want to/didn't listen to the podcast? Very unlikely, he said he would listen and then tell me if he wanted me to post it. I normally just post it, but he said some pretty deplorable things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weinerdog Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Might want to call your bank and/or any credit card providers you have. They could have free monitoring you can opt into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Hundred Fifty-Two Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Take a look around your place he might have left it at your place. If a stranger finds it I'm thinking you will likely be fine. I wouldn't be very worried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGhostOfRandySavage Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Very unlikely, he said he would listen and then tell me if he wanted me to post it. I normally just post it, but he said some pretty deplorable things. Like what? I'm super curious now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turnstiles Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 Like what? I'm super curious now. My podcast is about dating and relationships. So he named a few names that he probably shouldn't have named in regards to people he slept with that we're in relationships/married. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGhostOfRandySavage Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 My podcast is about dating and relationships. So he named a few names that he probably shouldn't have named in regards to people he slept with that we're in relationships/married. yikes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladewillisisdead Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 My podcast is about dating and relationships. So he named a few names that he probably shouldn't have named in regards to people he slept with that we're in relationships/married. Bleep out the names and you're probably good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cambionic Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 [...] use if for porn gifs or whatever [...] just like the rest of us. danthemjfan23 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 odds are nothing are going to happen. regardless, your options are pretty limited. just sign up for Credit Karma (free) and keep an eye on new accounts etc. If you're REALLY concerned, you can pay for credit monitoring services that supposedly offer more protection and insure against losses, but that seems extreme to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kgry Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 jack8urt0n 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daegor Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 Jumping on the paranoid caution train here. It sounds unlikely that your friend will commit ID fraud and that he probably legit lost it. BUT, that leaves a high possibility that someone else will find it at some point in time. At that point, you're gambling that they're going to do nothing with that information. From what I understanding of ID theft, if someone is successful you are ROYALLY fucked. And by the sounds of it there is enough information on there for them to be successful. Contact the police as a precaution. They'll tell you what to do (if anything), BUT, most importantly, there will be a record on file of you raising the flag PRIOR to any theft occurring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
konk Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 2 LIGHTERS?! WHY THE FUCK DO YOU HAVE 2 LIGHTERS?! Probably would've been the first thing I said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelby Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 2 LIGHTERS?! WHY THE FUCK DO YOU HAVE 2 LIGHTERS?! Probably would've been the first thing I said. I carry two because one always disappears. Hope that helped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Gogh Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 I carry two because one always disappears. Hope that helped. Turnstiles, this is WHY your friend lost your USB stick. He carries 2 lighters because he LOSES things. Why would you give ALL of your personal information to a man that carries 2 lighters!? In all seriousness though, the reality is that there are so few people out there that have the necessary contacts or knowledge to actually do something with your info that you will probably never have any issues. Not only that, but most people wouldn't have the nerve to actually go through with stealing your identity anyway. In fact, you've probably got more chance of someone handing the thing in to the police or contacting you IF they even find the files. Just in case though, I think you should move to Panama and change your name.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooks Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 It's most likely you never see the thing again, and nothing happens. It's currently in lost and found with some other shmucks lost USB from 1997 at the train HQ. If that's not the case, with all your personal info there it's more likely you get it in an envelope in your mailbox from some good samaritan than it is that some nefarious evildoer with a knack for identity theft gets a hold of it. NB: Call the train hotline and find out where the Lost and Found is and go look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.