What To Do if Your I.D. is Stolen
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR I.D. IS STOLEN
1.We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. 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). However, here is what is perhaps most important of all.
3. Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. 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.
HERE ARE THE NUMBERS YOU ALWAYS NEED TO CONTACT:
EQUIFAX: 1-800-525-6285
EXPERIAN (FORMERLY TRW): 1-888-397-3742
TRANSUNION: 1-800-680-7289
TO HELP KEEP YOUR I.D. SAFE:
1.The next time you order checks have only your intials & last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook, they won't know how you sign your name.
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 it - instead put the last four numbers.
4. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a P.O. Box, use that instead of your home address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks.
5. Make copies of your wallet - do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. keep the photocopy in a safe place.
6. When you check out of a hotel that uses cards for keys, do not turn the "keys" in! Take them with you and destroy them. Those little cards have on them all of the information you gave the hotel - including address and credit card numbers and expiration dates. Someone with a card reader, or employee of the hotel can access all that information with no problem.
