This is one of those things we think will never happen to us. But if it happens, we will wish we had been prepared. Someone sent this to me, so I thought I would pass this along. I read one e-mail where a lady was telling all the problems it caused when someone took her wallet out of her purse. There were 2 ladies working together. This person was trying on shoes at a store, and in the time she walked a few steps in them, one person stepped between her and her purse where she couldn't see it, and another lady lifted her wallet. It's sad you can't trust people any more these days! :'( Anyway, I thought this is something we don't think about, and wanted to pass it on! GOOD ADVICE 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. A corporate attorney sent this out to the employees in his company. I pass it along, for your information. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed us in your name, address, SS#, credit, etc. Unfortunately I (the author of this piece who happens to be an attorney) have firsthand knowledge, because my wallet was stolen last month and 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. As everyone always advises, cancel your 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 ever thought to do this) Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and SS#. 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 2 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; we pass along just about everything. Do think about passing this information along, it could really help someone.
--- Begin Message --- This is one of those things we think will never happen to us. But if it happens, we will wish we had been prepared. Someone sent this to me, so I thought I would pass this along.
I read one e-mail where a lady was telling all the problems it caused when someone took her wallet out of her purse. There were 2 ladies working together. This person was trying on shoes at a store, and in the time she walked a few steps in them, one person stepped between her and her purse where she couldn't see it, and another lady lifted her wallet. It's sad you can't trust people any more these days! :'(
Anyway, I thought this is something we don't think about, and wanted to pass it on!
GOOD ADVICE
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.
A corporate attorney sent this out to the employees in
his company. I pass it along, for your information.
We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed us in your
name, address, SS#, credit, etc.
Unfortunately I (the author of this piece who happens to be an attorney)
have firsthand knowledge, because my wallet was stolen last month and
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. As everyone always advises, cancel
your 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 ever thought to do
this)
Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to
place a fraud alert on your name and SS#.
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 2 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; we pass along just about everything. Do think about
passing this information along, it could really help someone.
--- End Message ---
