ATTORNEY'S ADVICE -- NO CHARGE


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 sent the following out to the employees in his company.
1. The next time you order checks have only the initials of your first names
     put on them, and then of course, your full last name.
     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. 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 number, and anyone who might be handling your check
      as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have
      access to it.
 4.  Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone.
       If you have a Box use that instead of your home address.
       If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your
       SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!)
  5. 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.
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:
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 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 there ever is one).
    But here's what is perhaps most important of all : (I never even thought to
    do this.)
3. Call the 3 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 dead in their tracks.
    Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet,
    etc.,  has been stolen:

1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

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

3.) Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289

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

If you are willing to pass this information along, it could really help
someone that you care about.