Industry Standard Computers
St. Clairsville, Ohio
(740) 695-1520
30 Years In Business - 30 Years Experience with Computers - 25 Years with Networks & Security
The oldest system builder in the area, maybe in the state!
Best Labor Rate in the Area, $25 Shop, $40 Outside
Identity Theft:
NBC's Tom Costello reports that "More people will have their identities stolen this year than will have their homes broken into." MSN says, " Some 50 million identities have been compromised or stolen in the last six months alone."
It really is a shame that we have come to the point in this country that we have to worry about identity theft but alas that is the case. The following, sent to me by a friend, is something that I found interesting and useful. There are many simple things one can do to deter identity theft; these are just a few. I hope they are helpful to you.
ATTORNEY'S ADVICE -- NO CHARGE:
A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company.
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 won't have access to it.
4. Put your work phone number 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 SSN printed on your checks. (DUH!) 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 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.
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 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:
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).
But here's what is perhaps most important of all : (I never even thought to do this.)
3. Call the 3 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, etc., has been stolen:
1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
Another one from ISC:
1. Get a locked mailbox. People can't steal your junk mail once they
have all the other info about you.
We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about everything. But if you are willing to pass this information along you can cut and paste
http://www.iscnetwork.com/security/identitythief.htm
into an email.
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pages on this website written by employees of ISC, © Copyright 1999-2015
by Butch Walker, all rights reserved.
Do
not copy or use in any way without written permission from Butch Walker.
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