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I looked in on my husband through our camera (I was at work) and noticed he was on the phone (he never uses the phone). I turned on the speaker just in time to hear him giving his entire SSN. I started screaming into the microphone for him to stop and hang up the phone. This went on for around 5 min until my friend happened to get home from work and heard me screaming through the intercom. She went in and took the phone from him and told the person she was not to send him anything and to never call again. She hung up on the lady, and not five seconds later the lady called back. At this point in his ALZ he only knows his name, DOB, and SSN. I’m so worried that he gave all of that information to a scammer. What can I do?

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Call all three credit bureaus and freeze his credit.
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Isabelsdaughter Mar 2019
Don't you have to have POA to do this?
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Experian: 
1-800-397-3742 
www.experian.com
Equifax: 
1-800-685-1111 
www.equifax.com
TransUnion: 
1-800-888-4213 
www.transunion.com
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My parents switched their existing number from regular land line to a VOIP service (they use viatalk). The VOIP service offers lots of special features like call authentication where any unknown caller has to enter a 3 digit code for the phone to ring in the house. This allows us to call them directly, but it stopped the scam calls.
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I'm so grateful you had the cameras and could discover this! Though the credit agencies should be open for you now, anyone can submit it via internet at all hours. See BarbBrooklyn's post above for her thoughtful post that includes their websites.

For my mom, once the scum scammers discovered Mom was an easy target, I found out they were calling her every ten minutes! I ended up immediately changing her phone number that she'd had for 40 years and making it unlisted.

Also, does he have access to his or your credit cards and both of your monetary accounts? You may want to consider changing those card numbers and making them inaccessible to him. For the monetary accounts, Mom had found a way to travel to the bank (this was when we discovered she required round-the-clock care) was in the process of withdrawing money to send the scum scammers. A bank teller, who knew Mom, stopped her and informed her they were scammers.

In addition to all the other good advise above, you can sign you both up for Credit Karma. It's free and you can check both your credit reports. Every month, I pulled up Mom's account and studied for anything untoward--and mine.
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Turn ringer OFF when you leave or hide receiver. For the current issue put a red flag on his ssn. You may have to wait to see what he did then deal with it.
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Isabelsdaughter Mar 2019
Good ideas
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Go to Consumer Cellular and get them a Grandpad. The device is very reasonably priced and monthly service is less than a land line in our area. It's simple to use and the caregiver is the administrator. Only people who can call your elderly person is who you have set up in it. My mom was getting taken by scam after scam and now is in assisted living with her grandpad. It is a wonderful device with photos, weather, articles to read, games and more. I am not getting paid for advertising for them, I'm just very impressed with the Grandpad.
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OldArkie Apr 2019
Sounds brilliant! I have to remember when the time comes! I thought about just putting a switch outside and turn phone off when I leave. Leave cell phone for emergency use!
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You can go online to make the freeze by answering a few questions about past addresses, jobs, people you are related to. It took us an hour to do all 3 credit bureaus for both of us while watching a sporting event at home. I would also put a fraud alert on his accounts since he gave away his info.
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Besides freezing your credit, you should also get Identity Theft Protection. I use the company that Dave Ramsey recommends, Zander Insurance. He uses it for his family and everyone in his company. In case you don't know who Dave Ramsey is, he is a very popular financial adviser and has the 3rd most listened to radio show. He only recommends ethical businesses on his show and website. So I trust him.

It costs me $15/month for my whole family and it covers ALL types of losses related to identity theft.
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Dexieboy Mar 2019
Great info. I need it for my mother. Thanks.
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write credit bureaus and have a block placed on to prevent anyone from establishing anything in his name. Fraud alerts as well with all three major credit bureaus . I believe they are Equifax, Transunion and Experian. SSA should also be notified immediately!
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My LO I care for still has AT&T landline. We use their "Call Screening" service that only allows approved numbers to be received. It's limited to 20 numbers but it works in her case. If this was the case in my own home it would be ok bc my mobile is my primary contact number. Truly helpful as she had begun giving out her CC number donating to whomever called.
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kirahfaye Mar 2019
Oh, I wish our cell phone provider had that option! It doesn't matter how many times I've explained to my 84 year old mom that she shouldn't answer calls that don't have a recognized name attached - she still answers.
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