An Attorney's Advice

jazz lady

~*~ Rara Avis ~*~
PREMO Member
Some good advice....

A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company:

* The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them.

* If someone takes your check book, 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.

* 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.

* 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. 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.

* 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, etc. 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:

* 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 easily.

* File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

* But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never even thought to do this). 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 in their tracks.

The numbers are:

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. Pass this information along. It could really help someone you care about.

Note: This was sent to me via email, but I think it was valuable enough to pass along. I just hope it's not a repeat. ~~ jazz lady
 

willie

Well-Known Member
Very good stuff. Not many people would think of calling the credit reporting companies.
 

Bertha Venation

New Member
Originally posted by jazz lady
* The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them.

* If someone takes your check book, 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.
All good advice, and thanks, Jazz. But experience taught me that using only your first and/or middle initials is worthless in preventing the successful use of stolen checks. Perhaps it works if you live in a very small town, use a local bank, and the thief tries to use your checks in that same town.

That "K.J." and not "Kimberly J." was printed on my checks not stop the at least two thieves who used them from signing my checks "Katherine J." or "Karen J." or "Kevin J." or "Kenneth J." or even just "K.J." Apparently none of the 20+ merchants who accepted my checks from the thief ever asked for I.D. And the bank paid them all.
 
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