me&mymxz
02-15-2006, 10:24 PM
I recieved this email that is well worth reading
Susan M. Pernice
Price Management/Compliance
ARRIS
Commercial Marketing
770-622-8620
Some of this YOU should already know. Pass it on, it is extremely good
info.
Fraud: An Attorney's Advice
Finally, someone has forwarded an email to me that is worth it's
weight in gold. All of this makes perfect logical sense.
Please pass it on!!!
ATTORNEY'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
ID 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 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).
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 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:
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.
Susan M. Pernice
Price Management/Compliance
ARRIS
Commercial Marketing
770-622-8620
Some of this YOU should already know. Pass it on, it is extremely good
info.
Fraud: An Attorney's Advice
Finally, someone has forwarded an email to me that is worth it's
weight in gold. All of this makes perfect logical sense.
Please pass it on!!!
ATTORNEY'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
ID 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 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).
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 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:
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.