LA_MERC_Andyconda
April 9th, 2007, 10:28 AM
This could save you tons of money and heart ache in the future. Here you go.
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.
>
> 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, an d
> 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: 800-525-6285
>
> 2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742
>
> 3.) Trans Union: 800-6807289
>
> 4.) Social Security Administration (fraud
> line):800-269-0271
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.
>
> 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, an d
> 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: 800-525-6285
>
> 2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742
>
> 3.) Trans Union: 800-6807289
>
> 4.) Social Security Administration (fraud
> line):800-269-0271