Identity Theft

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 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. I also carry a
Photocopy of my passport w hen 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:

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: 800-525-62852.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-37423.) Trans Union: 800-68072894.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):800-269-0271