Good advice- Off topic

[Guest guest]

WHAT TO DO IF YOU LOSE YOUR PURSE OR WALLET

     We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed using your

    name, address, SS#, credit, etc. Unfortunately I (the author of this

piece

    who happens to be 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. As everyone always advises, cancel your 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 ever thought to do this) Call the three

    national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud

alert

    on your name and SS#. 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 2

    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-

     Experience (formerly TRW): 1-

     Trans Union: 1-

     Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-

    We pass along jokes. We pass along just about everything. Do think about

    passing this information along. It could help someone

    I also make a copy of everything in my wallet. Don't everyone rush to

the

    copier either.