"Legal Advice"

ATTORNEY'S ADVICE -- NO CHARGE

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. The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead  of first name) and last name put on them. 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# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add  it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

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 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:

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.

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.) Equifax:  1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans  Union: 1-800-680-7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):  1-800-269-0271

We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along  just about everything. But if you are willing to pass this information  along, it could really help someone that you care about