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April 10, 2006

Protecting Yourself From Identity Theft

The following article was in today's issue of the I-cop
newsletter. It's good advice in preventing identity theft.
The I-cop newsletter is only sent to members, but you can
get information on membership on The International Council
of Online Professionals at:
http://www.i-cop.org/ref.cgi?id=williec

Here's the article...

Guard Your Wallet

Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to
refer to it someday. Maybe we should all take some of his
advice! A corporate attorney is said to have sent the
following out to the employees in his company.

PERSONAL CHECKS

1. The next time you order checks have only your initials
(instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone
takes your checkbook 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.

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 number on your checks instead of your
home phone.

4. If you have a PO Box, use that instead of your home address.

5. Never have your Social Security Number printed on your
checks. You can add it if it is necessary, but if you have it
printed anyone can get it.

WALLET CONTENTS

1. Carry only, in your wallet or on your person, the cards,
checkbook, cash, etc. you absolutely need.

2. Do not carry a Social Security card in your wallet.
Memorize the number. If necessary, write the number on a piece
of paper in a manner that you can recognize it but another
person cannot.

3. Do not carry any record of account numbers. Memorize them.
If necessary, write the numbers on a piece of paper in a
manner that you can recognize it but another person cannot.

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.

5. I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I 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.

CREDIT & DEBIT CARDS

Unfortunately I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because
my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thief
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:

1. 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 who to call. Keep those
where you can find them easily.

2. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where
it was stolen or lost. This proves to credit providers you
were diligent and is a first step toward an investigation (if
there ever is one).

3. But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never even
thought to do this). Call the three national credit-reporting
organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name
and Social Security 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 I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after
the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of
all the credit checks initiated by the thief's purchases, none
of which I knew about before placing the alert.

Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thief
threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It
seems to have stopped them in their tracks.

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

------------
"Gerald P. Nehra, of Muskegon, Michigan, is an MLM Specialist
Attorney at Law. His 33 years of legal experience include 9 years
as Director of the Amway Legal Division. His private law practice
was established in 1992 and is focused on serving the legal needs
of direct sales companies operating in the United States.
You are invited to visit his web site at www.mlmatty.com"

Posted by Willie Crawford at April 10, 2006 04:08 PM

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