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SirDiscipliner69 -> ATTORNEY'S ADVICE - NO CHARGE (3/5/2007 3:36:56 AM)
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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. 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., has been stolen:
1.) Equifax: 800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union: 800-6807289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):800-269-0271
Thank you
Ross
©º°¨¨°º©
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