Don
Ya, there are some good tips, in there. But, the Phone Number, they give for the Social Security Administration. To Report someone using your number, is wrong. I looked up all of the Phone Numbers and the rest are good. Although, this e-mail has been Circulating, since, 2002. Snopes, has some good info, on it here, http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/scams/credit.asp. They point out a couple of mistakes in the Advice, in the e-mail FWD. I'm putting all of the links, from my research.
Here are, some really good Pages...
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/scam-alerts
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft
http://oig.ssa.gov/report-fraud-waste-or-abuse/what-cant-oig-investigate/identity-theft
The rest of the links, have good info, too...
- Identity Credit Theft Phone Number Lookups in SOME GOOD PRACTICAL ADVICE e-mail FWD
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- 1-877-438-4338 (The Best Number to call if your SSN Social Security Number has been used by someone else)
- 1-877-438-4338 - Google Search
- Submit a Consumer Complaint to the FTC | Federal Trade Commission
- Scam Alerts | Consumer Information
- Consumer Information | Federal Trade Commission
- Identity Theft | Consumer Information
- Identity Theft | Office of the Inspector General, SSA
- Federal Trade Commission | Protecting America's Consumers
- If You are a Victim of Identity Theft - Learn at Equifax
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- 1-800-269-0271
- 1-800-269-0271 - Google Search
- Submit a Report | Office of the Inspector General, SSA
- Report Fraud, Waste, or Abuse | Office of the Inspector General, SSA
- snopes.com: Credit Card Fraud Protection
- 800-269-0271: US Social Security Administration customer service phone number #3 | GetHuman.com
- Questions about individual claims for Social Security Administration
- Identity Theft | Consumer Information
-------- Forwarded Message --------
Sent: 1/28/2015 7:02:53 A.M. Pacific Standard Time
Subj: Fw: SOME GOOD PRACTICAL ADVICE
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GOOD ADVICE FOR EVERYONE!ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂATTORNEY's ADVICE - NO CHARGE (Number 7 is the best)
Not A Joke!!   Even If you dislike attorneys...You will love them for these tips.ÂÂRead this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice! A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company:ÂÂ1. Do not sign  the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED.'ÂÂÂÂ2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the completeaccount 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.ÂÂ3. 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 yourSS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.ÂÂ4. 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. ÂÂ
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. In case your luggage is lost, take another list in your carry on bag, especially if you are abroad and need immediate access to those numbers.ÂÂUnfortunately, I, an attorney, have first hand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieves 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. ÂÂ
But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:ÂÂ5. 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.ÂÂ6.  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).ÂÂBut here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.) ÂÂ
7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line 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.ÂÂÂÂThe 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.ÂÂBy 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.ÂÂNow, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, if it has been stolen:ÂÂ1.) Equifax:  1-800-525-6285  1-800-525-6285 ÂÂÂÂ2.) Experian (formerly TRW):  1-888-397-3742  1-888-397-3742ÂÂÂÂ3.) Trans Union : 1-800-680 7289 1-800-680 7289ÂÂÂÂ4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): ÂÂ
 1-800-269-0271  1-800-269-0271 ÂÂÂÂWe pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about everything.ÂÂIf you are willing to pass this information along, it could really help someone that you care about.ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ
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