protect your identity

Stealing IDs are at the top of the crime list
===============================================================
> 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 last month 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. 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

"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government." ---Patrick Henry

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