Good advice to protect against identity theft
March 29, 2007 | Personal Finance | 
5 comments
- Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put
“PHOTO ID REQUIRED.” - 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. - Put your work phone�number 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. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. If you have it printed, anyone can get it.
- 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. - Carry a photocopy of your passport when you travel abroad. We’ve all heard horror stories about fraud that’s committed stealing a name, address, social security number, credit cards.
- 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. - 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). - 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. 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.Here are the numbers you�will need:
- With the increase in identity theft I thought it would be helpful to post some valuable tips for protecting yourself
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union: 800-6807289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 800-269-0271
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I liked your post so much I am going to recreate two copies of it (with your permission, of course:)) and then laminate them!
Why?
So I can carry one with me in the car while leaving the other one in my desk drawer at home.
Identity theft is something that happens far too often. And I travel backwards and forwards from Auckland to Los Angeles four or five times a year, effectively making me a good candidate (as in “victim”) for this type of crime.
Your little, bracketed comment incinuating that the Police are not necessarily even going to investigate didn’t go by unnoticed. In my personal experience they seldom do, unless it’s bordering upon a national security threat!
Once again, “thanks” for the great post:)