Avoid Identity Theft Advice

Categories: Dating, Pen Pals, Friends: Member Safety Online & Offline, Scam Warnings
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Submitted by: Nannette | View Member Profile | View Other Posts
Created: 7/20/2006

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. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO
ID REQUIRED".

3 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.

4. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone.
If you have a P.O. Box, use that instead of your home address. If you do
not have a P.O. 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.

5. 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 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)

But here's what is perhaps most important of all:
(I never even thought to do this.)
3. 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 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 e stopped them dead in their tracks.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your
wallet, etc., has been stolen:

1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experience (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271



We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about
everything. But if you are willing to pass this information along, it could
really help someone that you care about.

Steve Frankwick