Attorney's Advice - No Charge

[goose491 0]

The following is an email forward I actually didn't mind receiving. Hopefully some of you may find it useful.

***
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.

1. The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook, 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.

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

3 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.

4. 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 SIN# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

5. 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 travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a name, address, SIN, credit cards.

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:

1. 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.

2. 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).

But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)

3. Call the two national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Insurance 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 dead in their tracks.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc. has been stolen:
1.) Equifax Canada: 1-877-249-2705
2.) TransUnion: 1-877-525-3823

We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about everything. But if you are willing to pass this information along, it could really help someone that you care about.

My Karma ran over my Dogma!!!

[AggieDave 6]

Badass post! Good advice. Thanks.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Vallerina 2]

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

I've always had that on the back of my cards, and it's rare that anyone actually checks. I get really surprised and thank the person for doing so.

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[Rebecca 0]

Ooh. I'm saving that.

THANKS!!!!!!


I hereby nominate this post and Wendy's "This post is not about you" post for posts of the month.

you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' -- well do you, punk?

[unformed 0]

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

This doesn't make a difference. Most places don't even bother. When I lost my wallet I was using my brothers credit card. First of all, it's not signed, and most places don't even care. Second, I had one place check my ID, tell me that my name doesn't match the name on the credit card, and I said, "Yeah I know, I'm borrowing this card." They said "OK" and completed the transaction.

The rest of it is good info....

This ad space for sale.

[tigra 0]

One of my cards has my picture and an image of my signature on the front. The back is not signed and I'm often asked for additional ID.

[wmw999 2,588]

I've had the light company cash a check that was written to the gas company. And vice versa. For 2 years my dad's bank honored checks that I had signed (with my name), even though we hadn't filled out the account-share stuff (we thought we had).

I would imagine that a check with no signature at all would probably also pass through, based on that evidence.

Protect your checkbook.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Stiner 0]

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

I have mine like this and I agree most of the time they don't check. Something to be aware of, though, is I have been somewhere (my post office - not sure if it's a general rule or just that specific one) that will not accept credit cards that are not signed (not even if it says "see ID" and I give them a valid ID). But they will take my debit card that says the same thing.....go figure!

[Vallerina 2]

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One of my cards has my picture and an image of my signature on the front.

That would be really nice to have!

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[davedlg 0]

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

I have mine like this and I agree most of the time they don't check. Something to be aware of, though, is I have been somewhere (my post office - not sure if it's a general rule or just that specific one) that will not accept credit cards that are not signed (not even if it says "see ID" and I give them a valid ID). But they will take my debit card that says the same thing.....go figure!

If you read the fine print on your credit card, it reads something to the effect of " Not Valid Unless Signed " Technically, writing "See ID" or the like invalidates your credit card.

[tigra 0]

Its a Citibank card, and I've had it for a loooong time. Back when I got it, I thought it would become the norm, but I guess the idea hasn't taken off yet.

[AggieDave 6]

Bank of America does the picture and signature thing as well. I really like that, even though usually I get comments like "oh you shaved your beard" when I use that card.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[jumpwally 0]

The initials on the check is an odd thing,,sure your bank knows how you sign but,,good luck having someone accept a check with no name but initials on it,,,

smile, be nice, enjoy life
FB # - 1083

[DTOXX 0]

OK, I don't have a copy machine near by so here goes: My visa number is 4343468713841908 and expires on 12/08. Thanks for helping.

Honestly that is some great advise. Thanks for sharing.

-------
D.T. Holder
SIMstudy

[DTOXX 0]

And for the first stupid A-hole to ask. No that is not a real number.

-------
D.T. Holder
SIMstudy

[sfzombie13 324]

is that a real number?

_________________________________________
Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes

[jimbarry 0]

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

Some vendors won't accept that. Like someone said above, the US Post Office refused my card a couple of times because I wrote "CHECK ID" on the back.

Buying tickets on Amtrak, same thing. No signature, they don't accept the card. Yes, even if I hand them my drivers license too.

But I agree with most others above, that most places don't check or care.

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4. ...If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address.

Ugh. I wish. *Lots* of places won't take a check which only has a PO Box on it. After a couple years of this, I finally had to chuck a box and buy another one with my address.

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Never have your SIN# printed on your checks.

No reason to have you phone number printed on it either.

The rest of that stuff above is great. Thanks!!

[Gravitymaster 0]

More often than not, these days you are asked to simply swipe your credit card and the cashier never even looks at it.

[GTAVercetti 0]

Here is something else:

Get a CitiCard. Not only does my card give me cash back, but I can create Virtual numbers to use online for one time use. Pretty cool.

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.