Personal Identity Precautions

The compromise of personal identities occurs daily. We have all heard the nightmares that some have endured after their personal identities were stolen by unscrupulous individuals. Their credit ratings were trashed; they were responsible for thousands of dollars of incurred debt; and it took years, as well as thousands of dollars of legal fees, to correct.

The following rules of thumb for protection from the compromise of your personal information are worth your consideration.

PREVENTION:

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

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.

3. Put your work phone number 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 Social Security number printed on your checks . You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

4. Get photocopies of all the contents of your wallet. 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 you travel at home or abroad.

CORRECTION (What to do after a compromise):

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 who 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).

3. Most importantly, call the three national credit reporting agencies immediately to place a fraud alert on your name, and also call the Social Security fraud line number. 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.

NATIONAL CREDIT AGENCY PHONE NUMBERS:

1. Equifax: 800-525-6285
2. Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742
3. Trans Union: 800-6807289
4. Social Security Administration (fraud line): 800-269-0271

[My thanks to Edna Oeth for this information]