INC NEWS - smart advice

[TheOcean1@aol.com]

Finally, someone has forwarded an email to me that  is worth it's weight in 
gold. 
 
Please pass it on!!! 
 
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 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 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 
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.

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