Protecting yourself from Identity Theft

Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it
someday. We pass this information on to victims that report credit card fraud & idenity theft

Unfortinately many victims have firsthand knowledge, after the fact because their Wallet
was lost or stolen from thier purse while shopping or via a vehicle or home burglary. Within hours, the
person(S) can order an Expensive cell phone package, apply for a VISA credit card, have A credit
line approved to buy a computer, request a PIN number from DMV to change your 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:


Protecting your self from Idenity Theft!

1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID
REQUIRED."

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. 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. We've all heard horror stories about
fraud that's committed on people by stealing a Name, address, Social Security
number, credit cards.

5.. 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.

6.. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit
cards, etc., were stolen or lost. This proves to credit Providers you were diligent,
and this is a first step toward an Investigation (if there ever is one) most credit card companies require a police report to be filed if the charges exceed $500.00.

But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (Most people never even think to do this.)

7.. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations Immediately to place
a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line
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 you report the loss or theft of the credit/debit cad all
the damage has been done. There are records of all the Credit checks
initiated by the thieves' purchases, some even caught on video ..

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet,
if it has been stolen:

1.) Equifax: 800-525-6285

2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742

3.) Trans Union: 800-680-7289

4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):800-269-0271

Educating the public one step at a time....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ZenCruiser @ Feb 27 2007, 09:55 PM) [snapback]397597[/snapback]</div>

Thanks Galaxee, this one I hadn't heard of !

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JackDodge @ Mar 1 2007, 10:16 AM) [snapback]398446[/snapback]</div>

Oh that one call I dislike, Help police someone broke into my mailbox !

Regretfully mailboxes fall under US Post master, not the police....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JackDodge @ Mar 1 2007, 11:49 AM) [snapback]398516[/snapback]</div>

I will elaborate / clarify my statement, Ok there are several types of mailboxes.
ones that are mounted to the wall or on a post by the street. Normally these types are paid for by the resident & installed by same. Some newer neighborhoods and apt/condos have a community mailbox it will have multiple mailboxes in one unit.

I get calls for damaged mailboxes where someone has run it over or hit it with a bat ect. mostly its the mailboxes that stand out by the street. Again the ones paid for by the resident.. (I will go out and do a report on those as that really is personal property).. The multi-boxes are the property of the US Mail and they are responcible for repair or dammage and they do their own report even if we are called we just call the post master and report it to them.

I had to respond to a multi-box call one day, where the mail man didnt secure the box so anyone could take anyones mail.. I stood by for 2 hrs. until a post person could come out and relock the box....

Today I got called to a womans house because the neighbors kids were climbing in their own tree and she didnt think it was safe.... :huh: I had one this morning a woman called to report vandalism to her home, I arrived and guess what it was??? A broken beer bottle in the road in front of her drive way & she wanted someone to clean it up.... :blink: Some people call for the dumbest things....