I also got the following good tips in an email from my wife's aunt:
A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company:
* The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them.
* If someone takes your check book 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.
* 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.
* Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If
you have a PO Box use that instead of your home or 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.
* 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 package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a
credit< BR>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:
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 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).
Here's what is perhaps most important: (I never even thought to do
this).
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.
Actually, due to a recent ruling, you need call only one agency since
that agency will pass the report along to the other two.
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
"Suggestions for protecting your identity"
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