Good advice for when you travel

[cavanami]

Date: Friday, March 13, 2009, 3:15 PM

 

ATTORNEY'S ADVICE - NO CHARGE 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! A corporate Attorney sent the following 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. Copy 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 to 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 record info rmation online, and more. But here's some critical info rmation 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 credit was made over the internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your info rmation 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., that has been stolen:

 

1.) Equifax: 800-525-6285

 

2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742

 

3.) TransUnion : 800-680 - 7289

 

4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 800-269-0271

 

We pass along jokes on the Internet;

we pass along just about everything.

 

If you are willing to pass this info rmation along, it could really help someone.

[..]

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

Me mate Mark (whom you met this weekend) had a funny story about that. He signs his credit cards "See ID".

 

So he eats a nice meal in a restaurant in China, they charge his card and the bring it back to be signed. He signs it, then leaves his driver license. The girl goes away.

 

Five minutes later, she's back. "Mister, the name does not match."

 

Well, it seems that they would not accept the "See ID" thing, even with his passport and US driver license (both pix ID with signature), and even after having the concept explained to them by a native Mandarin speaker.

 

The only way to get out of the restaurant was -- you guessed it -- to sign the charge slip "See ID"!

 

 

Cheers,

SD

[Sakai]

 

[The_Munchmaster]

Me mate Mark (whom you met this weekend) had a funny story about that. He signs his credit cards "See ID".

That might be handy in the UK, e.g., if you were stopped for a traffic offense. When the copper asks for your driving licence show him the back of your credit card and if he's thick enough he might think you're in the Special Branch and let you go!

 

[chelseafan]

Very witty

 

[Mentors]

[unit731]

This may vary by country.

 

On my personal checks, just my first initial and last name. No address. No phone number. No nothing else.

 

Decades ago, I was at bank ordering replacement checks. The nice older lady stated that I must put all that personal information on checks. I politely advised her just my first initial and last name. Obviously all that bank numbers would be on checks.

 

Nice bank lady told that this cannot be done. I advised her that, yes, it can be done. Then she advised me that no one would accept such a check as payment - with just first initial and last name. I responded that yes, they would, if they wanted to be paid. I did get replacement checks with just first initial and last name.

 

I have 4 different checking accounts used for various reasons. Each account - the paper checks - just first initial and last name (family name for some of you).

 

Even some of my credit cards have first initial and last name but not all as some match credit card name to passport name.

 

I find it facinating in shopping/grocery store with people paying by check and all the personal information is on personal checks. Name, address, SSN, DOB, phone number. Prime candidates for identity theft.

[kamui]

This may vary by country.

 

On my personal checks, just my first initial and last name. No address. No phone number. No nothing else.

 

Decades ago, I was at bank ordering replacement checks. The nice older lady stated that I must put all that personal information on checks. I politely advised her just my first initial and last name. Obviously all that bank numbers would be on checks.

 

Nice bank lady told that this cannot be done. I advised her that, yes, it can be done. Then she advised me that no one would accept such a check as payment - with just first initial and last name. I responded that yes, they would, if they wanted to be paid. I did get replacement checks with just first initial and last name.

 

I have 4 different checking accounts used for various reasons. Each account - the paper checks - just first initial and last name (family name for some of you).

 

Even some of my credit cards have first initial and last name but not all as some match credit card name to passport name.

 

I find it facinating in shopping/grocery store with people paying by check and all the personal information is on personal checks. Name, address, SSN, DOB, phone number. Prime candidates for identity theft.

 

In Germany (all EU??) we do no use checks anymore. It's either cash, EC cards, credit cards or wire transfer.

 

[TroyinEwa/Perv]

You can't mail in a payment? For example, your electric for the month. Or if you would have a home phone? One is not billed for this service? I can't believe the option of mailing in a check is obsolete already.

[kamui]

You can't mail in a payment? For example, your electric for the month. Or if you would have a home phone? One is not billed for this service? I can't believe the option of mailing in a check is obsolete already.

 

Paying bills: wire transfer or cash deposit. The reason why checks went out of use completely is that until 2001 the so called Euro checks were guaranteed to a certain limit. Today checks are not guaranteed anymore. For the beneficiary of payment checks are the lest secure method.

 

In our business checks are only accepted from foreign clients and it takes up one-two weeks until we know if a check is valid...