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| Avoiding identify theft |
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admin writes, " Timely advice, forwarded from reader Griff Rogers, who says "I bounced
this off of a few attorney buddies. Basically the feedback I've received is that
the advice is sound. The only other input was that before taking action #2,
check with the holder of your charge card ."
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 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. "
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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 PO 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.
You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can
get it.
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
Disclaimer: While this sounds like great advice to me, I'm not an
attorney. Apply your own judgment.
The author of this advice gained no business advantage from writing and
distributing it. It was simply an attempt to make the lives of the
employees in his company a little bit better. Which, I imagine, they
appreciated. Which strengthened their relationship with their employer.
Which, come to think of it, is a business advantage after all.
As you concern yourself with strengthening your internal processes and
technical architecture, take a few moments to also strengthen your
relationship with the people in your organization. If you need an
incentive, the payback is much greater than what you'll invest.
Bob Lewis is president of IT Catalysts,
Inc. ( www.itcatalysts.com
) an independent consultancy specializing in IT effectiveness and
strategic alignment. Contact him at rdlewis@issurvivor.com.
Don't leave me sitting here in a vacuum!
If you think I'm full of beans, let me know. The address is Letters@ISSurvivor.com.
Or, if you need advice, ask for it at Advice@ISSurvivor.com.
I sometimes use reader letters in my columns. The rules:
• In your letter, let me know if and how I can use it (as is, sanitized,
or don't be ridiculous - you'll be found out and run out of town).
• Also let me know if you'd prefer to remain completely anonymous, or
whether I may give you credit by name
• All letters and responses are the property of IS Survivor Publishing,
division of IT Catalysts, Inc.
Copyright 2005, IS Survivor Publishing, all rights reserved.
If you like this article, why not let a friend enjoy it, too? It's fine
with me, and in fact I'd be flattered. All I ask is that you send the
whole thing, including this notice. But don't be shy ... if you think
they'd like it, don't you think they should see it? But only those people
- you wouldn't want me to get a reputation as a spammer, would you?
To Subscribe, visit http://www.issurvivor.com/registerKJR.asp
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Posted on Apr 01, 2005 12:11pm.
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