xrayzebra
02-03-2006, 03:27 PM
I received this information not long ago. I thought I would pass it on,
since it is very good advice, along with some important phone numbers
at the end you may want to jot down somewhere.
ATTORNEY'S ADVICE -- NO CHARGE
Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to
it
someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice! A corporate
attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company.
1. The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of
first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook,
they
will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your
first
name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks.
2. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID
REQUIRED".
3. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO
NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just
put the
last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the
number,
and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all
the
check processing channels won't have access to it.
4. If you have a PO Box, use that instead of your home address. Never
have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is
necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.
5. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both
sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in
your
wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and
cancel.
Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a photocopy of my
passport
when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories
about
fraud that's committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social
Security
number, credit cards.
Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my
wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(s) ordered an
expensive
monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a
credit
line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV
to change my driving record information online, and more. But here's
some
critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or
someone you know:
1. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But
the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so
you
know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.
2. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your
credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you
were
diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there
ever is
one).
But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even
thought to do this.)
3. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to
place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. I had
never
heard
of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an
application
for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any
company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and
they
have
to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft,
all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit
checks
initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before
placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and
the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in).
It
seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.
Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet,
etc., has been stolen:
a.. Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
b.. Experience (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
c.. Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
d.. Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
since it is very good advice, along with some important phone numbers
at the end you may want to jot down somewhere.
ATTORNEY'S ADVICE -- NO CHARGE
Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to
it
someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice! A corporate
attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company.
1. The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of
first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook,
they
will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your
first
name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks.
2. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID
REQUIRED".
3. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO
NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just
put the
last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the
number,
and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all
the
check processing channels won't have access to it.
4. If you have a PO Box, use that instead of your home address. Never
have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is
necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.
5. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both
sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in
your
wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and
cancel.
Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a photocopy of my
passport
when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories
about
fraud that's committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social
Security
number, credit cards.
Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my
wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(s) ordered an
expensive
monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a
credit
line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV
to change my driving record information online, and more. But here's
some
critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or
someone you know:
1. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But
the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so
you
know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.
2. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your
credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you
were
diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there
ever is
one).
But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even
thought to do this.)
3. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to
place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. I had
never
heard
of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an
application
for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any
company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and
they
have
to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft,
all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit
checks
initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before
placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and
the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in).
It
seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.
Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet,
etc., has been stolen:
a.. Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
b.. Experience (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
c.. Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
d.. Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271