I never thought of this, but will be doing so ASAP. Seems like good advice.
David Riker
74 Midget
63 Falcon
70 Torino
http://home.pacbell.net/davriker
----- Original Message -----
From Midland Empire Insurance
To: David Riker
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 8:48 AM
Subject: Fw: Very useful information !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine.
Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc., so
you will know what you had in your wallet and all of the
account numbers and phone numbers to call to cancel.
Keep the photocopy in a safe place.
A corporate attorney sent this out to the employees in his
company. I pass it along, for your information.
We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed
using your name, address, SS#, credit, etc. Unfortunately
I (the author of this piece who happens to be an attorney)
have first hand knowledge, because my wallet was stolen last
month and within a week the thieves 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. As everyone
always advises, cancel your 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
ever thought to do this) - Call thethree national credit reporting
organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and
SS#. 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 2 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
We pass along jokes; we pass along just about everything. Do think about
passing this information along. It could really help someone.
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