A gittel tip to protect your identity!

Suggestions for how to PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY!

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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Copy
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 to cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. Carry a photocopy
of your passport when you 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.

5. 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.

6. 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)

7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to
place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security
fraud line number. 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.

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