Finally, someone has forwarded an email to me that is worth it's weight in gold. All of this makes perfect logical sense. (I already practice some of this, but there are a few tips I will be doing). Please pass it on!!!
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".
I do this. A bank employee told me that it was not a recommended idea as the merchant could refuse to accept the card. I advised the bank employee that if a merchant refused to accept my card, I would question whether I wanted to do business with the merchant. I am trying to protect my identity. All the merchant has to do is ask for and look at a picture ID. If the photo doesn't match, they call the cops. Maybe they are afraid that they'll lose a sale?
I feel it's a whole lot easier to fake a signature than it is to provide photo ID that matches the thief's face to go along with the stolen card. For the most part, a petty thief isn't going to even attempt to use the card. Too much work. But, they might sell it to someone who will go to the trouble. I also told the bank employee that if my card is stolen and used I may be able to take legal action against the merchant because they did not diligently attempt to assure the proper person was using the card. I don't know whether this would fly or not, but it's a thought.
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.
I work for a law enforcement agency and by state law, I'm permitted to use my work address on my driver's license and vehicle registration. Some businesses will use your personal information from your checks for mail lists. So you need to know whether your company will allow personal mail coming to your work address.
5. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine (or use your home scanner). 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 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, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more.
I used to do this, but it's not current. Right now, I wouldn't know exactly what was in my wallet. That will change before the evening is over.
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).
We all know that if you report a stolen card within a certain amount of time, you are only liable for a certain amount charged against the card. By showing your diligence in reporting the crime, the credit card company may waive all your liability. I don't know that for sure, but I think I've heard that somewhere. (This is where you don't take my word for what I've written - check it out for yourself).
But here's 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.
You can have your bank place a watch on your account if your check book is stolen. You'll have to know the check numbers involved and there might be a fee involved. Banks charge for everything these days, but it's worth the cost for the peace of mind. When I put a watch on my account, I had to tell the bank what checks would be coming through. Now, this was in the days before computers were such a part of everyday life, so things might be a lot different.
Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
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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