Helpful info on protecting your ID
Sorry for the Cut and Paste but I thought this was worth sharing.
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 3 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., >that 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
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 3 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., >that 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
0
-
Good tips. Thanks, after having my Check Card stolen a few months ago, I will be doing those soon. Thanks again. 0 -
Good information.....thanks. [:)][:)]
crims400 -
Very good ideas. 0 -
Good tips but if they want your ID they will get it,,I kow from experience,, in my case we have now tracked down this much,,someone found,removed from mailbox or just somehow got one of the mailers from a credit card company they send out saying I was pre approved,,they sent it back with a changed address,,a po box up town was used,,at that time that card company refused it because of the changed address but other card companies started sending offers to that addy in town "companies sharing info ??"..ANYWAY,,someone other than me started getting credit cards in my name to a po box up town that was also in my name that I never rented,,then they moved the accounts to New Mexico and went crazy,,,over 150k in credit card debt in my name in about 3 months,,,after I caught it i was able to get the 100k run up in another state removed easy,,,I am still fighting 5 card companies over 50k run up on cards first issued to the PO box in town,,,after spending several thousand dollars trying to fix it I was ready to just file chapter 7 and say to hell with it,,,checked with my lawyer helping with the card fraud and found out under the new bankruptcy laws I make too much money to even file chapter 7,,wish I could just get my hands around their throats 0 -
quote:Originally posted by sharpshooter039
Good tips but if they want your ID they will get it,,I kow from experience,, in my case we have now tracked down this much,,someone found,removed from mailbox or just somehow got one of the mailers from a credit card company they send out saying I was pre approved,,they sent it back with a changed address,,a po box up town was used,,at that time that card company refused it because of the changed address but other card companies started sending offers to that addy in town "companies sharing info ??"..ANYWAY,,someone other than me started getting credit cards in my name to a po box up town that was also in my name that I never rented,,then they moved the accounts to New Mexico and went crazy,,,over 150k in credit card debt in my name in about 3 months,,,after I caught it i was able to get the 100k run up in another state removed easy,,,I am still fighting 5 card companies over 50k run up on cards first issued to the PO box in town,,,after spending several thousand dollars trying to fix it I was ready to just file chapter 7 and say to hell with it,,,checked with my lawyer helping with the card fraud and found out under the new bankruptcy laws I make too much money to even file chapter 7,,wish I could just get my hands around their throats
Let's face it, Sharpshooter..you don't really want to get your hands around their neck.....You want you get your muzzle covering their crotch [:D] Seriously though, sorry to hear about your difficulties.
And thanks Elkoholic, for a good post.0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
5 comments