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Preventing Identity Theft
What to do if your Identity is Stolen
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. 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.
Unfortunately I, 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:
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: (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 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:1-800-525-6285
Experian:(formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union:1-800-680-7289
Social Security Administration(fraud line):1-800-269-0271
Check Verification Services:
If you have had checks stolen or a bank account fraudulently opened in your name, report it to the check verification companies listed on the bottom of this page. This will alert merchants who may later be presented with the checks. Put " stop payments " on any outstanding checks that you are unsure of. Cancel your checking and savings account and obtain new account numbers. Give the bank a secret password for your account ( not your mothers maiden name ).
If your identity has already been used to cash counterfeit or stolen checks, you may discover that your own check is denied when you attempt to buy something. A reference number will be printed on the back of your denied check. Merchants subscribe to check verification companies and submit whatever identity is given when a bad check is received. The check verification companies will not remove a bad check reported on your request. You must contact the check verification company and, by using the reference number on the back of your denied check, you can learn which merchant submitted the bad check report. You will then need to deal directly with the merchant to get the action removed.
To report the fraudulent use of your checks:
CrossCheck
Phone: 800 552-1900
CERTEGY
Phone: 800-437-5120
NPC
Phone: 800-526-5380
Tele-Check
Phone: 800 366-2425
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