Identity theft - protection & do and don'ts PLUS To limit the damage

[papau]

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. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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. Also carry a photocopy of the passport when you 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.


To limit the damage:

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

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).

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.



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

[ncrainbowgrrl]

1. Georgia-specific question

> 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.

Anyone in GA know if they've changed the driver's license number to something that's NOT your SS#? It still amazes me that this was still going on as of 2001.

[pagerbear]

2. Great suggestions

You can also monitor your credit report periodically to see if any unauthorized activity is taking place. I use a service called Privista (www.privista.com), which sends me a report weekly telling me whether there have been any changes to my credit report. More often than not those changes are due to your own activity--account balance change, etc., but the basic service is worthwhile. Privista used to include more information with its membership, but it was bought by Equifax and now you have to pay extra for some of the more detailed credit report information. I believe the fee is something like $50/year. I was able to use this service to send fraud alerts to all three major credit reporting agencies at once when I found someone had gotten hold of my bank account information and began making unauthorized debits. (This I learned by regularly monitoring my bank account online.)

[papau]

3. great idea! Privista (www.privista.com ) is on my to do list!

:-)

[WillParkinson]

4. Great ideas!

Thanks for the suggestion.

As the recipient of "identity theft" recently it's a good thing to note.

Also, in case anyone works in the kind of place that I do, find out the rules regarding calling in sick. At our place they ask for your social security number. We don't have to give it.