Identity theft sucks!

Today I’m going to let myself be distracted just a tad.

This just came into my inbox. I don’t know the source, but it’s all great advice about how to keep your identity and credit safe.

Unfortunately, this is a problem that’s all too common these days. We network marketers are out there making every effort to get people to contact us and may need to be extra careful.

But rather than shutting down and living in fear, why not take a few steps that will turn it into less of a problem down the road?

It kind of reminds me of when I was growing up in New York, I had the choice to be scared by riding the subway at night by myself or going on about my life and riding whenever I needed to. Oh I rode alright … but if there was a creepy looking person or a car that only had one other person in it, I DID choose a different car. I wasn’t THAT stupid.

Being ready is the best thing you can do to protect yourself. I hope this helps.

To your success!
Andrea

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A fresh look at the LIES of NWM
http://www.MoreMoneyBook.com
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How to Protect Your Identity

Prepare:

Read 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.

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 # 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. (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 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.

Minimize the damage quickly:

Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have first hand 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:

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

We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about
everything. But if you are willing to pass this information along, it
could really help someone that you care about.