What to do if your Identity is stolen
A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company.
The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name)
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. 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 (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