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The information and suggestions offered in this
months Newsletter is not intended to constitute
legal advice but is offered merely as general
information and as promotional material for this
office. In specific cases involving your rights you
should always consult an attorney.
The following
information was picked up from an email message
forwarded by an a corporate attorney and sent out to
the employees in his company. On this basis the same
is shared with you for whatsoever purpose in your
own judgment you may find it useful.
1. The next time you order checks from your bank
have only your initials (instead of first name) and
last name printed on them. If you lose or someone
takes your checkbook, a forger 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. Then if a forger signs one of your
check with your initials and your bank mistakenly
pays the check, you are more likely to get your
money credited back to your account.
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. Your 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 the full
information.
4. Put your work phone number on your checks instead
of your home phone. If you have a P. O. Box, use
that instead of your home address. If you do not
have a P. O. Box, use your work address. Never have
your Social Security Number printed on your checks.
You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have
it printed, anyone can get it. Also remember as of
September 1, 2005, if anyone requires your SSN in
order for you to obtain commercial goods or
services, you are entitled to a copy of their
written privacy policy with respect to the use and
protection which they afford such information or you
are not required to give 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,
and credit cards.
Unfortunately, some folks have firsthand
knowledge of the harm and trouble that can result
from lack of information about the contents of their
wallet or purse if it is lost or stolen. Within a
short time thieve(s) have been known to ordered an
expensive monthly cell phone package, apply for a
VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy
a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV
to change 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.
The original author of these suggestions
wrote "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."
Here are the numbers you need to contact if
your wallet or purse has been lost or 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 (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
Receive a free credit
report from the credit unions at:
http://www.annualcreditreport.com/
If you are willing to
pass this information along, it could really help
someone that you care about.
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