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AN ATTORNEY'S 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.
1. The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead
of
first
name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook
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.
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 yo!
ur 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.
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 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 p
ackage, 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:
1. 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
2. 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).
3. 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 Int!
ernet; w
e pass along just about
everything.
Pass this information along. It could really help someone you care
about.
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