http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030218/tc_nm/financial_visamastercard_dc_2
Any ideas who? Visa and Master Card will not disclose it ;) At 01:57 PM 2/18/2003 -0400, you wrote: >I have no idea how true/false this stuff is..but thought no harm in >passing it along :) > >-Gel > >----------- >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 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. > >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 > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?forumid=5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?method=subscribe&forumid=5 This list and all House of Fusion resources hosted by CFHosting.com. The place for dependable ColdFusion Hosting. Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
