01-29-2005, 04:21 PM
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 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.
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. 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:
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 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).
3. But here's what is perhaps most important of all : (I never even
thought to do this.) Call the 3 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 until 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 if
your wallet, etc., has been stolen:
1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
[signature]
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 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.
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. 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:
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 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).
3. But here's what is perhaps most important of all : (I never even
thought to do this.) Call the 3 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 until 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 if
your wallet, etc., has been stolen:
1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
[signature]
