I signed up for a type of protection/alert at Privista, which is like an Equifax service company. In addition, the big three credit agencies are rolling out similar services. Regards, Dustin On Sat, 2001-09-01 at 19:12, Sue Smith wrote: <em>> Good advice, Larry. Here are some more tips, which I copied from a <em>> message from a friend. She said she got it from an Ann Landers column in <em>> the Advocate: <em>> <em>> 1. Destroy papers you don't need, like credit card and atm slips. <em>> 2. Use a shredder for everything that has personal information on it. <em>> 3. Guard your SSN. Don't carry it with you, don't print it on checks, <em>> drivers license etc., and don't give it out unless absolutely necessary. <em>> Use your drivers license number instead. <em>> 4. Check your credit report once a year. <em>> 5. Block your name from marketing lists. Remove it from pre-approved <em>> credit offers by calling 888-567-8688. <em>> 6. Don't carry any personal information on you that you don't need -- <em>> extra credit cards, SSN, etc. Cancel credit cards you don't need. <em>> 7. Keep confidential information in a locked place. <em>> 8. Use caution when buying over the Internet or phone, especially if you <em>> did not initiate the phone call. <em>> 9. Beware of scams about winning a contest, especially if you are asked <em>> to provide SSN or personal data first. <em>> 10. Use passwords with any account possible, and safeguard the <em>> passwords. <em>> 11. Keep track of your credit card when paying with it -- don't let a <em>> clerk take it out of your sight. <em>> 12. Use a firewall on your PC. <em>> 13. Support legislation that tightens id theft penalties and restricts <em>> sale of id info. <em>> 14. If victimized, notify police and credit agencies at once. <em>> 15. More info available at http://www.idtheftcenter.org, <em>> http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft, and Fed Trade Commission ph <em>> 877-438-4338. <em>> <em>> This must be quite a problem, with several messages about it just <em>> recently. And it seems that I've heard it talked about several times <em>> recently on radio. <em>> <em>> To all these lists, I would add another precaution: safeguard your PDA <em>> and your PIM (or its paper equivalent) at work and at home -- these can <em>> be loaded with personal info on you and your entire address list. <em>> <em>> What an 'exciting' world we live in!! <em>> <em>> Sue <em>> <em>> <em>> Larry Braud wrote: <em>> > <em>> > Since "Identity theft" is big business these days, thought I'd pass this <em>> > along. <em>> > <em>> > A corporate attorney sent this out to the employees in his company. <em>> > Pass it along, for your information. <em>> > <em>> > WHAT TO DO IF YOU LOSE YOUR PURSE OR WALLET <em>> > <em>> > We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed us in your <em>> > name, address, SS#, credit, etc. Unfortunately I (the author of this <em>> > piece who happens to be an attorney) have firsthand knowledge. My <em>> > wallet was stolen last month and within a week the thieve(s) ordered an <em>> > expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, <em>> > had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN <em>> > number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and <em>> > more. <em>> > <em>> > But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this <em>> > happens to you or someone you know. As everyone always advises, cancel <em>> > your credit cards immediately, but the key is having the toll free <em>> > numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep <em>> > those where you can find them easily. File a police report immediately <em>> > in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, This proves to credit providers <em>> > you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there <em>> > ever is one). <em>> > <em>> > But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never ever thought to do <em>> > this) - Call the three national credit reporting organizations <em>> > immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and SS#. I had never <em>> > heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an <em>> > application for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert <em>> > means any company that checks your credit knows your information was <em>> > stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit. <em>> > <em>> > By the time I was advised to do this, almost 2 weeks after the theft, <em>> > all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit <em>> > checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about <em>> > before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been <em>> > done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned <em>> > it in). It seems to have stopped them in their tracks. <em>> > <em>> > The numbers are: <em>> > Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 <em>> > Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742 <em>> > Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289 <em>> > Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271 <em>> > <em>> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] <em>> > <em>> > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> <em>> > Secure your servers with 128-bit SSL encryption! Grab your copy of VeriSign's FREE Guide: "Securing Your Web Site for Business." Get it Now! <em>> > http://us.click.yahoo.com/n7RbFC/zhwCAA/yigFAA/89EolB/TM <em>> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> <em>> > <em>> > You voluntairly subscribed to this mailing. You are free to unsubscribe at any time. You can unsubscribe by sending an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To access any advanced features of this mailing list goto http://groups.yahoo.com <em>> > <em>> > <em>> > <em>> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ <em>> <em>> <em>> ================================================ <em>> BRLUG - The Baton Rouge Linux User Group <em>> Visit http://www.brlug.net for more information. <em>> Send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] to change <em>> your subscription information. <em>> ================================================ <em>>
-- Dustin Puryear <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://members.telocity.com/~dpuryear In the beginning the Universe was created. This has been widely regarded as a bad move. - Douglas Adams ================================================ BRLUG - The Baton Rouge Linux User Group Visit http://www.brlug.net for more information. Send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] to change your subscription information. ================================================ <!-- body="end" --> <hr noshade> <ul> <li><strong>Next message:</strong> john beamon: "Re: [brluglist] re: Links page.." <li><strong>Previous message:</strong> Larry Braud: "Re: [brluglist] re: Links page.." <li><strong>In reply to:</strong> Sue Smith: "[brluglist] Re: [CCCCList]" <li><strong>Messages sorted by:</strong> [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ] [ attachment ] </ul> <hr noshade> <small> <em> This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.2 : <em>Thu Sep 06 2001 - 11:10:57 CDT</em> </em> </small> </body> </html>
