The Salvo Group

The Salvo Group

BEWARE OF IDENTITY THEFT!!
ATTORNEY'S ADVICE - NO CHARGE

1. The next time you order a checkbook, have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name printed in its face. If someone takes it, he/she will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name, but your bank should know your signature.

2. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED."

3. 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 numbers. Anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check-processing channels will not have access to it.

4. 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 Social Security Number printed on your checks.

5. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine and run a copy. 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 fi unfortunately you lose your wallet. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. Also carry a photocopy of your passport when traveling either here or abroad. We have all heard horror stories regarding IDENTITY THEFT.

6. When you check out of hotel that uses card keys (two copies; often used today), do not return the "keys". Take them with you and destroy them. These have all the information you gave the hotel, including address and credit card numbers and expiration dates. Someone with a card reader, or an employee of that hotel, can access all that information with no problem at all.

Here are 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. 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.

2. 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 ever is one). However, here is what is perhaps the most important:

3. 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 have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

Here are the numbers you need to contact when your wallet and its contents are stolen:

1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

Note: I received this E-Mail from a friend and asked me to post it. More articles of this kind are printed at www.thesalvogroup.com/NEWSANDINFORMATION.html