ATTORNEY'S ADVICE--NO CHARGE

HBendor — Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:32 am

Author: HBendor

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 11:32 am

ATTORNEY'S ADVICE--NO CHARGE
This is important information and very helpful.

Subject: 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: 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.

If you are willing to pass this information along, it could really
help someone that you care about.

MEPE

ATTORNEY'S ADVICE--NO CHARGE