Judy Hamilton
25th November 2006, 09:32 PM (21:32)
> 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. 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. You can add it if i t is necessary But if you
> have it printed, anyone can get it.
>
> 4. 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 he
> damage in case this happens to you or someone you kn ow:
>
> 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, etc., has been stolen:
>
> 1.) Equifax: 800-525-6285
>
> 2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742
>
> 3.) Trans Union: 800-6807289
>
> 4.) Social Security Administration (fraud
> line):800-269-0271
>
> We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just
> about every thing.
>
> If you are willing to pass this information along, it
> could really
> help someone that you care about.
>
> 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. You can add it if i t is necessary But if you
> have it printed, anyone can get it.
>
> 4. 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 he
> damage in case this happens to you or someone you kn ow:
>
> 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, etc., has been stolen:
>
> 1.) Equifax: 800-525-6285
>
> 2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742
>
> 3.) Trans Union: 800-6807289
>
> 4.) Social Security Administration (fraud
> line):800-269-0271
>
> We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just
> about every thing.
>
> If you are willing to pass this information along, it
> could really
> help someone that you care about.