> > > For once here is some internet info
that may actually be helpful to
> us.
> > >
> > > > 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.
> > > >
> > > > 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 us in
your
> > > name, address, SS#, credit, etc. Unfortunately I
(the author of this
> > >piece
> > >who
> > > > happens to be an attorney) have firsthand
knowledge, because my
wallet
> > >was
> > > > stolen and 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. 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. But also 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 the
three 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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