Some Useful Tips for Fraud Prevention
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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!
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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.
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Never have your SS# printed on your checks -- you can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.
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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.
A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company. I pass it along, for your information. 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 your credit cards immediately.
But he 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: 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
- The
numbers are:
