Friends in Ravenland -



Someone passed this on to me and I think its something we  should take some
or all of this advise.





The most important part of this - the phone numbers at the end.

LAWYER'S ADVICE - - NO CHARGE

Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it
someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice!

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.

2. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put, "PHOTO I.D.
REQUIRED".

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 PO Box, use that instead of your home address. If you do not have

aPO Box use your work address. Never have your Social Security number
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 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
thief 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 them 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).

But here's what is perhaps most important of all : (I never even thought
To do this.)

3. 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 which called to tell me an application
for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any
company who 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 thief's
purchases,
none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no
additional
damage has been done and the thief 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: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about everything.
But if you are willing to pass this information along it could really help
someone that you care about.




--
Rosie