[StBernard] Identity Theft Info (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Westley Annis]

ATTORNEY's ADVICE - NO CHARGE

 

Not A Joke!!    You will love them for these tips.

 

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 that
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 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately
to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the FTC number.  

 

I had never heard of doing this 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, if it has been stolen:

 

1.)  Equifax:                  1-800-525-6285

2.)  Experian:                (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742

3.)  Trans Union:          1-800-680 7289

4.)  FTC:                       1-877-438-4338, or contacting the 

 

                                      FTC through its website
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/mi crosites/idtheft/
<http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/>  

 

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.