"Kyle Phillips" > wrote:

>
>"Dog3" > ha scritto nel messaggio
21...
>> Okay, I found out late last night someone is usin my social security
>> number. Supposedly I own a car in Nebraska that was involved in a car
>> accident, a bad one. I have called the local authorities,not much luck
>> there. Gawd, I've never been to Nebraska.
>>
>
>Ouch. I'm sorry this happened. The below is from an old issue of Cosa Bolle
>in Pentola, my (nominally) Italian wine food and travel newsletter:
>___
>A Public Service Announcement
>Moving in a very different direction, this summer a friend of mine
>discovered that she was the victim of identity theft when a major retailer's
>collection agency called her to ask when she intended to start paying her
>bill. It turns out someone got her address and social security number,
>perhaps by snooping through her file at work, and armed with these numbers
>set up the account at the retailer. Nobody asked to see the person who did
>the calling at any step in the procedure -- she gave an address in some
>other part of town -- and when I last talked with my friend she said the
>criminal was still at large and she was still had financial worries stemming
>from the mess.
>
>So I have decided to pass on the following email, even though it has nothing
>to do with Italian foods or wines, in the hopes that it will save someone
>some grief:
>
>Subject: IDENTITY PROTECTION
>A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company.
>I pass it along, for your information.
>
>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.
>
>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 -- you can
>add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.
>
>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, etc.
>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 information online, and more.
>
>But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this
>happens to you or someone you know:
>
>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 easily.
>
>File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen,
>this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step
>toward an investigation (if there ever is one).
>
>But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never even thought to do
>this) 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 in their tracks.
>
>The numbers a
>Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
>Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
>Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
>Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
>
>___
>
>Kyle
>http://www.cosablle.com
>

Kyle, thank you so much for all the information. I just printed it
out to put with my important papers.


--
Susan N.

"Moral indignation is in most cases two percent moral, 48 percent indignation, and 50 percent envy."
Vittorio De Sica, Italian movie director (1901-1974)