A massive boo-boo on my behalf

[first_time_mummy]

Okay so ive been stressing like theres no tomorrow, and i feel like an absolute idiot for this......

For the past week i have had a cleaning spree happening, and ive been giving away unwanted junk to our local vinnies store

Stupid me wanted to surprise DP by cleaning out our bedroom cupboards, not thinking i gave several boxes of unwanted stuff to vinnies (which, have been under our bed for almost a year).
The vinnies store wasnt open, so i left the boxes outside near a donation bin.

when DP got home, we realised i had thrown out his entire paperwork file, including his bank details, tax file number, birth certificate, medicare slips etc.
I felt terrible, becuse it just looked like junk, and i didnt for one second think it would be all his paper work.
I raced back to the vinnie bin i had left it at, but some scab/bum had totally gone through everything, and taken it.

We had a call that night from a man who claimed he has all my partners details and identification.
It seemed like a threat more than anything, and the man called from a private number, so we were unable to call him back or trace the number.

DP was very upset and stressed, and was saying to me, 'why didnt you double check everything before you left it at the donation bin'...
I was so upset, and being hormonal didnt help. I cried continuously for like 2 hours....
Dp realise how upset i was getting, and was so supportive, he kept hugging me saying it was okay, and told me not to get upset...But i just couldnt stop crying, i felt so silly for not double checking each box.

We are so worried about identification fruad, and the fact that this man could easily walk in to any bank and open a new account in my partners name.
I have been running around frantically to all the local banks and police to report that someone has his details, and hopefully they will be able to stop the man, if he does try to take out a credit card etc.

Im stressing a little less now that ive called most of our local banks, but its just made me feel so stupid....all i was trying to do was make DP happy, by doing housework and cleaning, and i ended up making a massive incident, that is ten times as worse

[organicem]

Hope that nothing comes of it.
Sounds like you have dome everything you can.

[~Hestia~]

Oh you poor thing
You didn't do it on purpose. Sounds like you've done all the right thing contacting all the banks.

[first_time_mummy]

I just feel so silly, feel like i want to turn back time and not clean the room

Yeah im really hoping the bloke doesnt have the time or effort to do anything too drastic. I would hate for anything worst to happen, cause i really didnt mean to throw it out

[Melbournemumma]

Just a thought. Did you get in contact with the RTA and/or Australia Post as he could use the information to try and get photo id as well.

Hopefully it will be all sorted out. Try not to stress, you've done all you can to rectify it now.

[first_time_mummy]

oh, i didnt even think about the rta or post office.
thanks so much for the advice, ill pop into the local po and rta tomorrow just to let them know also.

thanks again.

[Lulu]

Did the person say he was ringing to return the stuff, or just tell you he had it?
I understand about you not realising, ALL my tax records look like boxes of junk.

[first_time_mummy]

he rang and made it sound more like a threat.
My partner said he sounded very dero/bum like, lol.
now were stressing that if he was low enough to steal stuff donated to a charity bin, then he could do anything

[Now we're 3]

Oh you poor thing I can imagine something like that would be stressful at the best of times.

The other people I would suggest you also contact are the police. I'm sure that they would be able to provide advice to you or point you in the right direction as to what you need to do to protect you against identify fraud. Also sure that this won't be the first time that something like this has happened.

Best of luck - keeping fingers crossed all is okay.

[lauren22]

babe i did the same thing
not long ago
except along withit i through out paper work for one of his cases hahahahha
he cracccccccccked it big time
only difference was it was his passport and credit card as aposed to brith cert and bank details
so not as bad but still awful
i hope everything works out darling

[first_time_mummy]

babe i did the same thing
not long ago
except along withit i through out paper work for one of his cases hahahahha
he cracccccccccked it big time
only difference was it was his passport and credit card as aposed to brith cert and bank details
so not as bad but still awful
i hope everything works out darling

oh dear...
what ended up happening? did you throw it in the bin? or accidentally donate it?
Did you have any calls or anything from anyone who may have found it?
Did he end up getting it back?

I so understand ...

[lauren22]

I binned it but worse still
i drove it to the tip hahaha
i cancelled the credit card called authorites about passport
issued a new passport
and nothing i could do for his court case :S
as far as birth certificates i have nooooo idea what the protocole is

[Tess]

You poor thing - what a horrible mistake to make.

All I can suggest is that you google online for identity fraud and/or identity security. It might give you a helpline number or a list of people to contact in the event of such an accident.

Hope it gets sorted soon.
Tess.