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Rarich
Federated Suns
Leftenant General
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 991
Location: United States
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 Posted: 19-Sep-2003 23:19 Post subject: Handy self defense info (protect your $) |
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An Attorney's Advice ......and it's free! 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:
- 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.
(J. Q. Doe)
- 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.
(XXXXXXXXXX1369)
- 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.
(Very useful, you would be surprised at how many lost wallets/purse reports we get every day. we figure about half were probably stolen)
- 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).
(casino/property security does not count! call the local police 311 non-emergency number, a lot of departments do this over the phone)
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. 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.
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
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.
[ This Message was edited by: Rarich on 2003-09-19 23:25 ]
_________________
Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side & a dark side, and strings also lie under it all.
Life is a sexually transmitted terminal disease.
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