Masonic Phantom
Member
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2008
- Posts
- 337
:shock:1. Next time you order cheques, have only your initials (instead of
your first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your chequebook,
they will not know if you sign your cheques with just your initials or your
first name, but your bank will know how you sign your cheques.
2. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID
REQUIRED".
3. When you are writing cheques 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 cheque as it passes through all the
cheque processing channels won't have access to it.
4. Put your work phone number on your cheques 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 Centrelink Number
printed on your cheques. You can add it if it is necessary, but 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 licence, 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 travelling 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 first-hand knowledge because my
wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieves ordered an expensive
monthly mobile phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit
line approved to buy a Dell 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:
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 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).
3. But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even
thought to do this.)
Call the three national credit reporting organisations 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 authorise 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 handed it in. It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.
Now, here are some numbers which you might need to contact if your
wallet etc has been stolen:
1. Visa Card Australia 1800 621 199
2. Visa Card International 1800 450 346
3. Lost Travellers' Cheques 1800 127 477
4. MasterCard Australia (02) 9466 3700
5. MasterCard International 1800 120 113
6. Bankcard Australia (02) 9281 6633
7. Medicare 132 011
8. Centrelink Fraud 137 230
9. Seniors Card 1300 364 758
10. Passport 131 232
ANZ FREECALL 1800 033 844
BankWest 131 718
Citibank 132 484
Tamworth Coles/Myer Source 2340 1300 306 397
Commonwealth 132 221
CUSCAL- MyCard 1300 135 538
GE Capital 1300 369 904
Members Equity 1300 654 998
National 132 265
St George 1800 028 208
SydneyVirgin 2000 1800 080 000
Westpac 1800 230 144
Woolworths Ezy Banking 137 288
We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about
everything, but if you are willing to pass this information along, it could
really help someone.
your first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your chequebook,
they will not know if you sign your cheques with just your initials or your
first name, but your bank will know how you sign your cheques.
2. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID
REQUIRED".
3. When you are writing cheques 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 cheque as it passes through all the
cheque processing channels won't have access to it.
4. Put your work phone number on your cheques 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 Centrelink Number
printed on your cheques. You can add it if it is necessary, but 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 licence, 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 travelling 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 first-hand knowledge because my
wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieves ordered an expensive
monthly mobile phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit
line approved to buy a Dell 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:
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 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).
3. But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even
thought to do this.)
Call the three national credit reporting organisations 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 authorise 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 handed it in. It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.
Now, here are some numbers which you might need to contact if your
wallet etc has been stolen:
1. Visa Card Australia 1800 621 199
2. Visa Card International 1800 450 346
3. Lost Travellers' Cheques 1800 127 477
4. MasterCard Australia (02) 9466 3700
5. MasterCard International 1800 120 113
6. Bankcard Australia (02) 9281 6633
7. Medicare 132 011
8. Centrelink Fraud 137 230
9. Seniors Card 1300 364 758
10. Passport 131 232
ANZ FREECALL 1800 033 844
BankWest 131 718
Citibank 132 484
Tamworth Coles/Myer Source 2340 1300 306 397
Commonwealth 132 221
CUSCAL- MyCard 1300 135 538
GE Capital 1300 369 904
Members Equity 1300 654 998
National 132 265
St George 1800 028 208
SydneyVirgin 2000 1800 080 000
Westpac 1800 230 144
Woolworths Ezy Banking 137 288
We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about
everything, but if you are willing to pass this information along, it could
really help someone.
