Fraud Prevention Suggestions:
1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Why give a thief an example of your signature? Instead, put 'REQUEST PHOTO ID.'
2. When writing checks to pay on 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.
3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a Post Office Box use that instead of your home address.
4. Photocopy both sides of the contents of your wallet. You will have a record of all the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep a copy in a safe place and carry a photocopy “concealed” in your luggage when traveling.
5. Cancel your credit cards immediately when stolen or lost.
6. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent.
7. Call the three national credit reporting organizations and the Social Security fraud line immediately, to place a fraud alert on your 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.
[Equifax: 800-525-6285 \ Experian: 888-397-3742 \ Trans Union: 800-680 7289 \ Social Security Administration Fraud Line: 800-269-0271]