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FREE ADVICE

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! I was told a corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company.

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 # 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. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

4. 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. 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 rec ord information online, and More. But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

5. 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.

6. 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.)

7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credi t 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., if it has been 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

PASSWORDS & PERSONAL INFORMATION

Never give out your password or any personal information, particularly if someone contacts you.

If you call or contact someone, and personal information is required, then use your best judgement as to whether is is safe to give this information to the other party.

Remember that NO ONE will ever contact you via the internet and request your password or username. Only provide these if YOU initiate the contact, and then only if the site is familiar to you.

You may receive emails asking you to log-in to what appears to be a legitimate site in order to verify your account. THESE ARE ALWAYS SCAMS! - ALWAYS.

TELEPHONE

DO NOT accept collect calls if you don't recognze the caller! Never assume that a call from a supposed service technician is legitimate. Many scam artists pose as service technicians doing routine checks and ask that you enter certain key punch entires on your phone. If you have been experiencing no problems on your phone, thank them kindly and hang up.

Be careful who you call. Certain phone numbers that appear to be standard long distance calls actually ring directly into some of the British Carribbean Islands. Many of these calls legitimately carry rates that may be as high as One Hundred Dollars or more per minute. The charges will appear on you phone bill and you are obligated to pay them if you made the call.

Never respond to any request to make a call-back on your telephone to a given number. This can often open your line to someone who will hi-jack your line for their own long distance calls. This is common practice among prison inmates.

CONTRACTS

There's nothing standard about any contract. Don't let a salesperson tell you it's just a "standard contract" or "everyone signs them", or "we have to have this in order to do business with you". If there's anything about the contact that you don't like or suspect, consult an attorney, or take your business elsewhere.

Accidents happen and simple mistakes may end up costing you everything you own.

Never sign any contract without first reading it ENTIRELY. The traps are in the small print. Better yet, have your attorney read it.

DO NOT sign any contract that binds you to arbitration, particularly where the arbitration organization is specified by the party making the contract. Arbitration is supposed to alleviate the high cost of litigation, however you may find that you cannot afford the cost of arbitration which may be $25,000 or more. It is not unusual that that an arbitration organization specified by a company routinely finds in their favor.

DO NOT sign any contract that asks you to indemnify the contractor against any action by youself, your employees, etc. without first consulting an attorney. For example, if one of the contractor's painters drops a paint can on your employee's head and injures them, the liability falls on you if you have indemnified the contractor

Final Words:

e-mail me with any changes you would like to recommend.

 

Last Updated July 16, 2006