This was forwarded to me by an alumna and seems like good advice,
especially in this season of traveling and enhanced exposure to pickpockets.


>A corporate attorney sent the following 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" 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 o 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.


**************************************
"No hay libro tan malo que no tenga algo bueno."
         -Miguel de Cervantes- Don Quijote de la Mancha
***************************************
"I divide all readers into two classes: Those who read to
remember and those who read to forget."
                         -William Phelps
***************************************
Oralia Preble-Niemi, Ph.D.
Professor and Head
Foreign Languages & Literatures
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN 37403
***************************************
Please notice the new prefix on the phone numbers.
************************************************************
"No hay libro tan malo que no tenga algo bueno."
         -Miguel de Cervantes- Don Quijote de la Mancha
**************************************
"I divide all readers into two classes:  Those who read to
remember and those who read to forget." -William Phelps
***************************************
Oralia Preble-Niemi, Ph.D.
Professor and Head
Foreign Languages & Literatures
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN  37403
Telephone:  423-425-4273
Fax:  423-425-4097
***************************************