Public Awareness Announcement #74 - Sensible Security Advice Published by Health Freedom Resources, Inc. http://www.healthfree.com _____________

"How I wish that somewhere there existed an island for those who are wise and of good will" - Albert Einstein

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Thought this might be useful in the interest of protecting ourselves financially. If anything is not quite accurate, let me know so that I can notify the other recipients.

A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company. I pass it along, for your information. ________________

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

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 -- you can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

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, etc.

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 on-line, and more.

But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know 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 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 even thought to do this)

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 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

We pass along jokes; we pass along just about everything. Do think about passing this information along. It could really help

Best wishes,

Ron Radstrom

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2002

Answers

I like the check idea, but some folks have checks with carbon copies, hence the signature is there, isn't it?

Do you save your old check registers? You know, where you write in what each check was for? What i have done is write the account numbers in the register so that I can go into the check file and get that. It has all the account numbers for everything i have written checks to, and add to that the stores that I frequent. We have two Kmarts so I use the street, as in Kmart 104 or Kmart 200. That way i know where I was on a particular day with the check book. Also, if it is a major purchase, say a piece of furniture or an appliance of some sort, i write that in, as in Circuit City - South 1, microwave. Makes finding the purchase date easy.

This way, I only have to go into the old check file box and find the register and i have everything.

Not to sure about using the work address on checks. I have seen some letters being returned because the address isn't authorized to accept mail for that person. Check with your employer to see if they will accept mail for you.

[Oh, I don't regularly carry around the checkbook, so having the info in the register isn't at risk for us. We normally use the checkcard and i add that info when we get home.]

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2002

I like the check idea, but some folks have checks with carbon copies, hence the signature is there, isn't it? We have carbon checks and the signature space on the copy is blacked out.

Not to sure about using the work address on checks. I have seen some letters being returned because the address isn't authorized to accept mail for that person. Check with your employer to see if they will accept mail for you. I think you can have it so that the address on your checks is not the address you have your stuff mailed to. Also, you may not have to have an address on your checks, I've seen that too. Might depend on state law and/or policy of bank.

I rarely take my checkbook, use a credit card instead. That way I have to account for only a few checks each month--I can just glance down the credit card bill to be sure everything is accurate. I spend about the same each month and I can pay off the card every month.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2002