Fw: Fw: EXCELLENT ADVICE

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> >> >

> >> > >

> >> >

> >> > > > 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. If you have a scanner on your computer you can scan

> >them

> >> > and

> >> > > > store

> >> > > > in on a FLOPPY, not just on your hard drive.

> >> > > >

> >> > > > A corporate attorney sent this out to the employees in his

> >company:

> >> > > >

> >> > > > We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed us in

> >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 and 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-

> >> > > >

> >> > > > Experian (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 really help someone.

> >> > > >

> >> > > >

> >> > >

> >> > >

> >>

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