[Chat] Fwd: protect yourself from credit fraud

[Crystal]

I had a credit card number stolen when I bought
something over the internet. Making an immediate
report to the Police and the credit bureaus kept me
from having to pay several thousand dollars in
overnight shipments to a bogus address in D.C.

Also, if you have a planner that "is my life", it's a
very good idea to make a full photocopy of the whole
book at least once and then copy any pages with new
notes once a month.

Good luck!

--- Moscatt at aol.com wrote:
> From: Moscatt at aol.com
> To: Discussion at charlesvillage.info
> Subject: [Discussion] something not about cvbd
> Date: Sat, 12 Apr 2003 00:52:28 EDT
> 
> 
> > An attorney sent the following excellent advice
> 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" or "Memo"
> 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.  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.
> >  
> > 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.
> > 
> 
> 
> 


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