Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Incase you lose your wallet!
Incase you lose your wallet!
I got this from a good friend,some stuff we knew,other
we don't!
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 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.
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 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).
But 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.
The numbers are:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
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.
Social Security Administration (fraud line):
1-800-269-0271 We pass along jokes on the Internet; we
pass along just about everything. Pass this
information along. It could really help someone you
care about. Fred E. Williams POB 85 Old Fort, NC 28762
I got this from a good friend,some stuff we knew,other
we don't!
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 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.
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 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).
But 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.
The numbers are:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
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.
Social Security Administration (fraud line):
1-800-269-0271 We pass along jokes on the Internet; we
pass along just about everything. Pass this
information along. It could really help someone you
care about. Fred E. Williams POB 85 Old Fort, NC 28762
