Dear Webby
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.
In case your luggage is lost, take another list in your carry
on bag, especially if you are abroad and need immediate access to
those numbers.
Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because
my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieves 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, if it has been stolen:
1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union : 1-800-680 7289 1-800-680 7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):
1-800-269-0271 1-800-269-0271
Jean
