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<blockquote type="cite" cite>Visionaries: This e mail
regarding identity theft came to me via an</blockquote>
<div><br></div>
<div>attorney. There is some excellent advice in the
message.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Tom Trail</div>
<div><br></div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Times New Roman"
color="#000000"><b>ATTORNEY'S ADVICE - NO
CHARGE </b></font><font face="Arial" color="#000000"><b><br>
<br>
<br>
<font size="+1"> 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.<br>
<br>
1. Do not
sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID
REQUIRED."<br>
<br>
<span
></span> 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.<br>
<br>
<span
></span> 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.<br>
<br>
<span
></span> 4. 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.<br>
<br>
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:<br>
<br>
<span
></span> 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.<br>
<br>
<span
></span> 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).<br>
<br>
<br
>
<br>
But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even
thought to do this.)<br>
<br>
<span
></span> 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. 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.<br>
<br>
<span
></span> 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.<br>
<br>
<span
></span> Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact
about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:<br>
<br>
1.)
Equifax: 800-525-6285<br>
<br>
2.)
Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742<br>
<br>
3.)
Trans Union: 800-6807289</font></b></font><br>
<font face="Arial" size="+1"
color="#000000"><b></b></font></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="+1"
color="#000000"><b
> 4.)
Social Security Administration (fraud
line):800-269-0271</b></font></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="+1"
color="#000000"><b><br>
If you are willing to pass this information along,
it could really help someone that you care about.</b></font><font
face="Arial" color="#000000"><br>
<font
size="+2"><b>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</b></font></font></blockquote>
<div><br></div>
<div><br></div>
<x-sigsep><pre>--
</pre></x-sigsep>
<div>Dr. Tom Trail<br>
International Trails<br>
1375 Mt. View Rd.<br>
Moscow, Id. 83843<br>
Tel: (208) 882-6077<br>
Fax: (208) 882-0896<br>
e mail ttrail@moscow.com</div>
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