Beware: Identity thieves now knocking on doors

So many of us still try to be good Samaritans and help a person in need. 

That's what Paul Oknaian did when he allowed a stranger to use his home phone. The young woman knocked on his door, claiming her cell phone had died.

She told Paul she needed to call someone for a ride, and could she use his phone?

Not a problem for Paul, who gladly handed her his home phone. When he noticed that she punched in more than the normal number of digits, he suddenly felt ill.

"I was distracted, but I was kind of paying half attention to what was going on. Sounds like she was dialing China, with all these numbers she was dialing," Paul said.

About an hour after she left, Paul decided to check the call history, and hit redial on the number the woman called.

"I hit redial and the voice comes on and says 'Welcome to the Sears Mastercard Activation Center,'" says Paul.

As the pieces came together, Paul soon learned that the woman had stolen his mail, including a credit card issued by Sears.  To activate the cards, the call must be placed from the cardholder's home phone.

That's why the identity thief asked to borrow Paul's phone. 

"It's almost like being here, while someone is robbing you. That's the feeling I probably would say. Knowing that someone is in your home, they have your information, and you're completely unaware that they are stealing right in front of you, and you have no idea," Paul says.

In the short time before Paul realized what had happened, the thieves had bought gas and were trying to use the card to buy fast food when it was canceled.

Fortunately, Paul isn't responsible for any of the losses. What he has done is install a locking mailbox so no one can get access to his mail.