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Thread: A list that could help keep you safe from ID theft

  1. #1
    Veteran Member TarynJolie's Avatar
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    Default A list that could help keep you safe from ID theft

    > >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 will not 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 SS# printed on your
    checks,
    > >(DUH!). You can add it if it is necessary. However, 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. Also carry a photocopy of your
    > >passport
    > >when traveling either here or abroad. We have all heard horror stories
    > >about fraud that is committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social
    > >Security number, credit cards.
    > >
    > >6. When you check out of a hotel that uses cards for! keys (a and they
    all
    > >seem to do that now), do not turn the "keys" in. Take them with you and
    > >destroy them. Those little cards have on them all of the information you
    > >gave the hotel, including address and credit card numbers and expiration
    > >dates. Someone with a card reader, or employee of the hotel, can access
    > >all
    > >that information with no problem whatsoever.
    > >
    > >Unfortunately, as an attorney, I have first hand 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 and received a PIN number from
    DMV
    > >to change my driving record information online. Here is 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. 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).
    > >However, here is what is perhaps most important of all (I never even
    > >thought
    > >to do this.)
    > >
    > >3. Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to
    > >place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security 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
    and
    > >contents being stolen:
    > >
    > >1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
    > >2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
    > >3.) Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
    > >4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

  2. #2
    God/dess Rhiannon's Avatar
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    Default Re: A list that could help keep you safe from ID theft

    Great tips! Thanks for passing them on. I especially liked the "Photo ID Required" instead of the signature on the back of the credit cards. I'll be doing that from now on.

  3. #3
    God/dess doc-catfish's Avatar
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    Default Re: A list that could help keep you safe from ID theft

    Very good information, but I have to take issue with this one as it is absolute bunk...

    6. When you check out of a hotel that uses cards for! keys (a and they
    all seem to do that now), do not turn the "keys" in. Take them with you and destroy them. Those little cards have on them all of the information you gave the hotel, including address and credit card numbers and expiration dates. Someone with a card reader, or employee of the hotel, can access all that information with no problem whatsoever.


    This has sadly gotten to urban legend status.

    http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/hotelkey.asp
    http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/k/keycards.htm
    http://urbanlegends.about.com/librar...l_keycards.htm

    The only think stored on your hotel room key card is a combination that activates the door lock on your room, and an expiration time of when that combination stops working. The computer which the hotel runs your credit card info and the computer which runs the key card lock systems are separated. Hotels have no incentive to put these systems together.

    Besides, if this were true, and you did destroy your keycards, couldn't the desk clerk just as easily put your personal information (already stored in the hotel's computer) on another one? This is from the Snopes article:

    However, the schemes described above don't involve harvesting personal information by reading it from returned hotel keycards; they involve obtaining personal information (such as credit card or ATM card numbers and PINs) through other methods and then using discarded hotel keycards as storage media for that information. The keycards are used as easy-to-obtain blanks, not for what they might already have coded into them. Loyalty cards issued by grocery stores (used to gain information about which products are selling at which locations to which groups of customers) or slot club cards issued by casinos (used to track the play of gamblers) could just as easily be used for this purpose.

    Also, this hotel cardkey warning overlooks the plain fact that many hotel employees who have access to cardkey scanners already have the ability to look up all sorts of personal information about guests through their hotels' booking systems. Just about any hotel clerk can retrieve the records of guests and print out or write down their names, addresses, phone numbers, credit card numbers, etc. If personal information were truly encoded on hotel keycards that could be read by anyone, the biggest concern should be keeping those cards away from people who are not hotel employees. (Indeed, the warning from the Burlingame police quoted above says that hotel keycards should always be returned to the front desk, the very opposite of the advice given in the warning quoted at the top of this page.)

    Former SCJ now in rehab.

  4. #4
    Veteran Member TarynJolie's Avatar
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    Default Re: A list that could help keep you safe from ID theft

    Thanks for debunking that Doc.

    I thought the stuff about the hotel key sounded off .

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    Default Re: A list that could help keep you safe from ID theft

    File for bankruptcy that will keep anyone from taking your ID.
    "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

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    God/dess Deogol's Avatar
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    Default Re: A list that could help keep you safe from ID theft

    Quote Originally Posted by big_daddy
    File for bankruptcy that will keep anyone from taking your ID.


    LOL!!!!

  7. #7
    Veteran Member TarynJolie's Avatar
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    Default Re: A list that could help keep you safe from ID theft

    Another idea I have heard of is to flag your credit report as if you have already had someone attempt to use your info.

    If you do this you will be required to show some additional proof of identity when filling out applications for loans, leases etc. But if you have the additional proof of i.d. there is no problem.

  8. #8
    Veteran Member kittykat1971's Avatar
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    Default Re: A list that could help keep you safe from ID theft

    Another tip is to remove your mail from your mailbox each evening. Our local news yesterday showed a woman driving by mailboxes stealing the mail from them. I know it sounds simple, but I occassionally forget.

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