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 numbers, 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 as 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. The telephone numbers are
listed below.

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!!!