Sure, shopping is a blast for most, and downright therapeutic for a
few, but not so much when your wallet or credit card numbers are
stolen. Here are some great tips from a leading attorney, himself the
recent victim of identity theft, to help keep you safe:
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 P.O. Box, use that instead of your home address. If you do
not have a P.O. Box, use your work address.
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 traveling either here or abroad.
Follow this advice and you'll be steps ahead of all future identify
theft victims who are not so well prepared.
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