Attorney's Advice for Identity Theft
It seems today that we need to ever watchful of our identities being stolen. An email was sent to me by a friend who ran across information that a corporate attorney sent to the employees of his company to reduce the risk of being a victim of identity fraud. I would like to share these with you as it may help you or someone you know some day. Here they are: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 number on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a P O Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a P O Box, use your work address. Never have your social security number 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. 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. Also, carry a photocopy of your passport when you travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that is committed on us in stealing a name, address, social security number, credit cards.
The attorney who wrote this article also said: "Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have firsthand 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 the DMV to change my driving record information online, and more." He went on to give 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 in investigation (if there ever is one).
7) Most important, though, is to call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the social security fraud line number. This is important because an application for credit can be made over the internet in your 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. The attorney whose wallet was stolen didn't do this until two weeks after the wallet was stolen - and there were records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves purchases - which none he knew of before placing the alert. Since he placed the alert no additional damage had been done and the thieves threw away his wallet and someone turned it in as the thieves were no longer able to make purchases using his identity.
Now, here are the numbers you need to contact to notify about your wallet, etc being stolen:
1) Equifax: 800-525-6285
2) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742
3) Trans Union: 800-680-7289
4) Social Security Administration fraud line: 800-269-0271
Feel free to share this information with those you know.
Labels: credit cards, fraud, identity theft, wallet stolen
posted by St Lucie Homes on the Treasure Coast @ 10/19/2008 08:07:00 PM
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