"Dog3" ha scritto nel messaggio
1...
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 Phillips"

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

GOOD JOB!!! I wanted to post this information but I didn't know
where to look for it. Thanks for your post, great information.

nancy

"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)

"Kyle Phillips" wrote

"Dog3" wrote 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:

(great information clipped and saved)

Kyle
http://www.cosablle.com

When shopping and handing over my credit card and signing the charge slip, I
often ask the clerk, "Did you check the signatures, to see if they match?"
I'm always greeted with the same puzzled look. Scary. Try it sometime.

Dora

When shopping and handing over my credit card and signing the charge slip,
I
often ask the clerk, "Did you check the signatures, to see if they match?"
I'm always greeted with the same puzzled look. Scary. Try it sometime.

Once I was buying something and I hadn't signed my card. The cashier
pointed that out and insisted I sign it. (sigh) She then checked my
signature
against the charge slip and yup, the signatures matched. I wanted to pluck
her in the head, maybe jump start her brain cells. (laugh)

One time, I was in a yarn shop, I was paying for my stuff, the cashier
whipped out that booklet they have, card numbers that are invalid for
whatever reason ... she went pale. Started looking around for her
cohorts in the store for backup, I guess. Finally she spit it out ...
the number's not in here! Hell, it better not be!!! I guess she was
out the day they explained the concept behind the booklet.

nancy

In article ,
"limey" wrote:

When shopping and handing over my credit card and signing the charge slip, I
often ask the clerk, "Did you check the signatures, to see if they match?"
I'm always greeted with the same puzzled look. Scary. Try it sometime.

I've seen them check the signatures in many places, but the thought that
keeps occurring to me is, do they even know what they're looking for? My
signature on my card was done more carefully than the rush-job I do on
receipts in the store, but no one's ever said anything. And would the
cashier have the nerve to say something if they thought it didn't match?


Here's one for the idiot file:
A friend of mine used to own a hardware store. I was there one day,
chatting with him, when a woman in her mid-thirties came in, wearing a
cap with the logo of a local county police department.

She paid for her purchase with a credit card. My friend checked the
signatures, and said to her, "the credit card doesn't have a signature
on it. I'll have to see some ID."

With a little triumphant smile, the woman said, "See? That's a police
trick. Don't sign your credit cards. If someone steals 'em, they'll have
to show ID before they can use 'em."

Me: "Well, no. They'll just sign the back of the credit cards. That way,
the signatures will match and they won't be caught."

She: "They can't do that!"

Me: "Of course they can. They have your credit card in their hands. They
can do whatever they want to it."

The look on her face was comical.

--
to respond (OT only), change "spamless.invalid" to "optonline.net"

http://www.thecoffeefaq.com/

In article , says...

"Kyle Phillips" wrote

"Dog3" wrote 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:

(great information clipped and saved)

Kyle
http://www.cosablle.com

When shopping and handing over my credit card and signing the charge slip, I
often ask the clerk, "Did you check the signatures, to see if they match?"
I'm always greeted with the same puzzled look. Scary. Try it sometime.

I've had clerks try to compare my signature. I pointedly ask them where
they went to school and what courses they took regarding handwriting
analysis. Kind of makes the point right then and there.

They should just ask to see ID though a good identity thief also has
that too, their picture with your name and relevant information.

The problem is that it isn't going to get any better.
For example, there's a push for a national standardization of ID's.

All well and good but they only people that will have access to the
encoded information on the license will be public safety and government.
Everyone else can go pound sand. But the bar codes and mag stripes all
follow open conventions so anyone with a decent sublimation printer and
plastic card stock could potentially create their own ID's. So long as
they don't get stopped for something nobody would ever know.

The only way we'll ever have secure ID and credit cards is if we lay in
several layers of security which most people won't put up with.

Oh yes, I forgot. The dirty little secret in those reporting agencies,
banks and payroll companies is how loose their security actually is.
This has been a stunningly bad month for business security what with T-
Mobile, ChoicePoint, Bank of America and a few others suffering data
security incidents that even an amateur could identify solutions for.
But they aren't amateurs, they're professionals. {If you missed the
dripping sarcasm, I suggest you read it again.}

On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 14:43:29 GMT, "Kyle Phillips"
wrote:


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


Thanks for the information! Sorry you had to find out the
hard way, though.

sf

On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 10:45:19 -0500, "limey"
wrote:

When shopping and handing over my credit card and signing the charge slip, I
often ask the clerk, "Did you check the signatures, to see if they match?"
I'm always greeted with the same puzzled look. Scary. Try it sometime.

I'm finding that more and more diligent clerks also ask for
picture ID, such as a driver's license.

sf

"sf" wrote in message

"limey"
wrote:
When shopping and handing over my credit card and signing the charge
slip, I
often ask the clerk, "Did you check the signatures, to see if they
match?"
I'm always greeted with the same puzzled look. Scary. Try it
sometime.

I'm finding that more and more diligent clerks also ask for
picture ID, such as a driver's license.

sf

Yes, I think everyone is more conscious of security these days. Why, I even
had to produce a picture ID before I could get my mammogram taken! Now
who'd want to fake that?
BG

Dora

"limey" wrote in message
...

Yes, I think everyone is more conscious of security these days. Why, I
even had to produce a picture ID before I could get my mammogram taken!
Now who'd want to fake that?

What, you needed to provide a picture of your boobs? I thought that's what
they were for! (smile)

Increasingly, I need to get a picture driver's license. Sucks.

nancy

"Nancy Young" wrote in message
"limey" wrote in message

Yes, I think everyone is more conscious of security these days. Why, I
even had to produce a picture ID before I could get my mammogram taken!
Now who'd want to fake that?

What, you needed to provide a picture of your boobs? I thought that's
what
they were for! (smile)

(cracking up). I said, "Geez, what do you think I would do? Send a
friend?"

Increasingly, I need to get a picture driver's license. Sucks.

nancy

On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 12:46:05 -0500, Scott
wrote:



Here's one for the idiot file:
A friend of mine used to own a hardware store. I was there one day,
chatting with him, when a woman in her mid-thirties came in, wearing a
cap with the logo of a local county police department.

She paid for her purchase with a credit card. My friend checked the
signatures, and said to her, "the credit card doesn't have a signature
on it. I'll have to see some ID."

With a little triumphant smile, the woman said, "See? That's a police
trick. Don't sign your credit cards. If someone steals 'em, they'll have
to show ID before they can use 'em."

Me: "Well, no. They'll just sign the back of the credit cards. That way,
the signatures will match and they won't be caught."

She: "They can't do that!"

Me: "Of course they can. They have your credit card in their hands. They
can do whatever they want to it."

The look on her face was comical.

On your credit card, where the signature goes, just write, "ASK FOR
I.D.".


Rusty

Nancy Young wrote:

"Kyle Phillips"

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

GOOD JOB!!! I wanted to post this information but I didn't know
where to look for it. Thanks for your post, great information.



And IIRC as of March 1st (this Tuesday) these agencies are required to give
you a credit report for no cost...

--
Best
Greg

"limey" wrote:


"Nancy Young" wrote in message
"limey" wrote in message

Yes, I think everyone is more conscious of security these days. Why, I
even had to produce a picture ID before I could get my mammogram taken!
Now who'd want to fake that?

What, you needed to provide a picture of your boobs? I thought that's
what
they were for! (smile)

(cracking up). I said, "Geez, what do you think I would do? Send a
friend?"


How about an enemy?



--
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)