"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