VERY Helpful Advice about Identity Theft

[Pamalicious]

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 will not 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. However, 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. Also carry a photocopy of
> >>> > your passport when traveling either here or abroad. We
> >>> > have all heard horror stories about fraud that is committed
> >>> > on us in stealing a name, address, Social Security number,
> >>> > credit cards.
> >>> >
> >>> > 6. When you check out of a hotel that uses cards for keys
> >>> > (and they all seem to do that now), do not turn the "keys"
> >>> > in. Take them with you and destroy them. Those little
> >>> > cards have on them all of the information you gave the
> >>> > hotel, including address and credit card numbers and
> >>> > expiration dates. Someone with a card reader, or employee
> >>> > of the hotel, can access all that information with no
> >>> > problem whatsoever.
> >>> >
> >>> > Unfortunately, as an attorney, I have first hand 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 and received a PIN number from DMV to change my
> >>> > driving record information online. Here is 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. 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).
> >>> > However, here is what is perhaps most important of all (I
> >>> > never even thought to do this.)
> >>> >
> >>> > 3. 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 dead in their tracks.
> >>> >
> >>> > Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about
> >>> > your wallet and contents being stolen:
> >>> >
> >>> > 1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
> >>> > 2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
> >>> > 3.) TransUnion : 1-800-680-7289
> >>> > 4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):
> >>> > 1-800-269-0271

[seductive_tee]

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.
> >>> >

> >>> > 6. When you check out of a hotel that uses cards for keys
> >>> > (and they all seem to do that now), do not turn the "keys"
> >>> > in. Take them with you and destroy them. Those little
> >>> > cards have on them all of the information you gave the
> >>> > hotel, including address and credit card numbers and
> >>> > expiration dates. Someone with a card reader, or employee
> >>> > of the hotel, can access all that information with no
> >>> > problem whatsoever.
> >>> >

Good advice about the checks, i'll do hat next time. And i always keep my key when i check out.

[jaila]

also there are services for relatively cheap ($19-$20) that will watch ur credit reports for u and notify u of any changes whether it be to your score, or something added or taken away.

[Tastey]

Good advice Pam except for the first one.

As far as number one goes, bank processing is not so archaic these days that they are checking signatures. Checks pass through now with NO SIGNATURE on them. If a theif signs the check like the name is printed 90% of all stores that accept checks will take them.

But most theives don't use checks in person. They use them ONLINE where no signature is required.

And since I don't work for them anymore and I hate them let me add that the majority of identity theft does not happen from stolen purses and wallets. Those people who snatch those are petty theives looking for quick cash. It's RARE for them to be in search of identities to steal.

Companies like I used to work for RECALL are where most of them are getting information. Recall's job is document destruction and it was one of the least secure places anywhere. They picked up documents from banks, cell phone companies, tax offices etc. And they left them lying around.

Where I work now at least 50- 100 customer SS#'s pass my desk DAILY. These are people in other states and anyone who works there could EASILY steal an identity and get things in SC that this person would never apply for in Texas. I watch folks throw these papers in the TRASH...not the document destruction bin...but the TRASH.

Identity theives often go through trash or they work for a nationwide company and steal people from other states. It's easier to get away with it if the person doesn't know they've been robbed.

I had a customer just yesterday who's entire refund check was taken by the government to pay child support in New Jersey. She's never lived in New Jersey nor does she have any children. But when she pulled her credit report she found that person also had department store cards, and a phone in her name in another state.

And the government doesn't give a damn if your identity has been stolen. It's up to YOU to prove it, and get the money back. She thought she could just call say it wasn't her and get her refund check.

No hardly.

[Sparkles]

A student attending our school was working for one of those companies. When i tell you he had open up credit lines EVERYwhere for folks sending back credit cards saying they didn't want them . He even cased empty home and businesses and use them for bogus addresses and had shit delivered there instead of his home.. He was good apparently because him and his girl friend were making a killing selling the shit they had order off line. It wasn't until him and his baby momma got into it and she called the police and told them how he had furnished his house. It was estimated that he had gotten about 250,000 dollars worth of merchandise. He didn't do much jail time, but his parents who are both drs. had to pay out the ass to keep him out of jail.