Indentity

Tips to stopping Identity theft.

The next time you order checks, omit your first name and have only your initials and last name put on them. If someone takes your check book 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.

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 # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home 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.

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. Also carry a photocopy of your passport when you 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, etc.

Here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:
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 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: Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security 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.

The numbers are:

Equifax:1-800-525-6285

Experian:(formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742

Trans Union:1-800-680-7289

Social Security Administration (fraud line):1-800-269-0271

And finally:

Buy a $2 Pen
Real life scam artist, turned security professional, Frank Abagnale,
depicted by Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie Catch Me If You Can--offers this simple hint to minimize personal check fraud.

A crook steals outgoing paid bills from your mailbox and places a piece of cellophane tape over the front and back of your signature on the check. Then the check goes into a pan of chemicals. The chemicals remove anything that is not printer's ink, except for the signature protected by the cellophane tape. After blow drying, the tape is carefully removed and now the thief has a blank check--signed by you.

Only one kind of ink--found in gel pens--is counterfeit-proof to any chemical used in "check washing." Abagnale recommends the uni-ball Gel Impact pen,
which sells for about $2 each at most office supply stores.

"I personally sign all my checks and important documents with one."

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