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 will not have access to it.

4. 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. However, if you have it printed, anyone
can get it.

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. Also
carry a photocopy of your passport when traveling
either here or abroad. We have all heard horror
stories about fraud that is committed on us in
stealing a name, address, Social Security number,
credit cards.

6. When you check out of a hotel that uses cards for
keys (and they all seem to do that now), do not turn
the "keys" in. Take them with you and destroy them.
Those little cards have on them all of the information
you gave the hotel, including address and credit card
numbers and expiration dates. Someone with a card
reader, or employee of the hotel, can access all that
information with no problem whatsoever.

Unfortunately, as an attorney, I have first hand
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 and received a PIN number from DMV to change
my driving record information online. Here is some
critical information to limit the damage in case this
happens to you or someone you know:

1. We have been told we should cancel our credit
cards immediately. 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.

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). However, here
is what is perhaps most important of all (I never even
thought to do this.)

3. 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 dead in
their tracks.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact
about your wallet and contents being stolen:

1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):
1-800-269-0271