What You Can Do To Avoid Identity Theft

A friend sent me the following, regarding Identify Theft. I thought it contained some valuable suggestions for things you could do to lower your risk of identity theft, so I am passing these tips along to you. Note that nothing here will PREVENT thieves from trying to steal your identity, but every precaution you take can make it more difficult.

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. (I’m not convinced that every bank is that diligent in looking at check signatures, but you could use this to prove that you didn’t write the checks.)
2. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED." (This doesn’t work if you go anywhere that allows you to scan your card without them ever looking at the back. This practice is becoming the norm in most stores.)
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.
5. 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 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:

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).
3. But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.) Call the 3 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.Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:

• Equifax: 1-800-525-62852.
• Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-37423.
• Trans Union: 1-800-680-72894.
• Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

I would add the following advice:

You don’t have to lose your wallet, credit cards or checkbook to be a victim of identity theft. Look at your bank account balances on a weekly basis. If you have access to your credit card transactions on-line, look at those as well. If you do that, you’ll know if there are any fraudulent charges and be able to act while the banks and credit card companies will take ownership of the problem.

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