Protect Your Self Against I D Theft

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. Do not sign the back of your credit cards.Instead, put
'PHOTO ID REQUIRED.'

2. 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.

3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your
home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your
home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work
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.

4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine.
Copy 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.

Also carry a photocopy of your passport when you 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 first hand knowledge
because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the
thieves 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:

5. 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.

6.. 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.)

7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations
immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also
call the Social Security fraud line 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, if it has been stolen:

1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742

3.) Trans Union : 1-800-680 7289

4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271


We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just
about everything. If you are willing to pass this information along,
it could really help someone that you care about.