ATTORNEY'S ADVICE -- NO CHARGE
1. The next time you order checks have only your first initials and last
name put on them.( i.e. R.C. Smith). 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 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 or license #
printed on your checks. You can add it if it is necessary.
But if you have it printed, anyone can get it and use them.
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
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 another 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 at home and on
trips.
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 stopped them
dead in their tracks.
Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet,
etc., has been stolen:
1.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
2.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
3.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
4.) Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
