Subject: An Attorney's Advice - Actually good
advice!
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:
* The next time you order checks have only your
initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them.
* If someone takes your check book 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.
* 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.
* Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your
home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home o
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.
* 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, etc.
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:
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 easily.
* File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction
where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were
diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever
is one).
But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never
even thought to do this).
Call the three 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 in their tracks.
The numbers are:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 Experian (formerly TRW):
1-888-397-3742 Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
Social Security Administration (fraud line):
1-800-269-0271
We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just
about everything.
Pass this information along It could really help
someone you care about.
Federal Trade Commission (I D Theft) Good information
on these web sites.
You can file a complaint online at:
