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

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:

5. 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.

6. 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.)

7. Call the three national credit reporting organizations
immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also
call the Social Security fraud line 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., if it has been stolen (or lost):

1.) Equifax: 800-525-6285

2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742

3.) Trans Union : 800-680-7289

4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):
800-269-0271

We pass along jokes on the internet; we pass along just
about everything.

If you are willing to pass this information along, it could
really help someone that you care about.

Thankyou for the post Izzynavi

Thanks, Izzy. Good advice!

Oceans

Thank izzy. I'll have to make a copy of that to make sure I take care
of all of it. Great advice

Thank you, this is very impotant info, can help a lot of people, I know
of 2 right now thanks again

Thanks for the info!

thank you
very useful informtion

Thank you for this info, Izzy.

Thanks for the information, Izzy.

nice izzy i especialy like the first one!!!


as far as the second one when u send in you bill the paper u gotta send
back has acct number on it usually also...

Good advice, thanks. :)

Great advice...unfortunately though nowadays it is so easy for someone
to steal your information. I had my credit card info stolen by a
waitress that rang up my bill at the end of dinner. She copied down my
credit card number and the security code on back. She had herself a
field day ordering things online.

Thanks IZZY...Great post