Good advice, Larry. Here are some more tips, which I copied from a message from a friend. She said she got it from an Ann Landers column in the Advocate: 1. Destroy papers you don't need, like credit card and atm slips. 2. Use a shredder for everything that has personal information on it. 3. Guard your SSN. Don't carry it with you, don't print it on checks, drivers license etc., and don't give it out unless absolutely necessary. Use your drivers license number instead. 4. Check your credit report once a year. 5. Block your name from marketing lists. Remove it from pre-approved credit offers by calling 888-567-8688. 6. Don't carry any personal information on you that you don't need -- extra credit cards, SSN, etc. Cancel credit cards you don't need. 7. Keep confidential information in a locked place. 8. Use caution when buying over the Internet or phone, especially if you did not initiate the phone call. 9. Beware of scams about winning a contest, especially if you are asked to provide SSN or personal data first. 10. Use passwords with any account possible, and safeguard the passwords. 11. Keep track of your credit card when paying with it -- don't let a clerk take it out of your sight. 12. Use a firewall on your PC. 13. Support legislation that tightens id theft penalties and restricts sale of id info. 14. If victimized, notify police and credit agencies at once. 15. More info available at http://www.idtheftcenter.org, http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft, and Fed Trade Commission ph 877-438-4338. This must be quite a problem, with several messages about it just recently. And it seems that I've heard it talked about several times recently on radio. To all these lists, I would add another precaution: safeguard your PDA and your PIM (or its paper equivalent) at work and at home -- these can be loaded with personal info on you and your entire address list. What an 'exciting' world we live in!! Sue <p>Larry Braud wrote: <em>> <em>> Since "Identity theft" is big business these days, thought I'd pass this <em>> along. <em>> <em>> A corporate attorney sent this out to the employees in his company. <em>> Pass it along, for your information. <em>> <em>> WHAT TO DO IF YOU LOSE YOUR PURSE OR WALLET <em>> <em>> We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed us in your <em>> name, address, SS#, credit, etc. Unfortunately I (the author of this <em>> piece who happens to be an attorney) have firsthand knowledge. My <em>> wallet was stolen last month and within a week the thieve(s) ordered an <em>> expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, <em>> had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN <em>> number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and <em>> more. <em>> <em>> But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this <em>> happens to you or someone you know. As everyone always advises, cancel <em>> your credit cards immediately, but the key is having the toll free <em>> numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep <em>> those where you can find them easily. File a police report immediately <em>> in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, This proves to credit providers <em>> you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there <em>> ever is one). <em>> <em>> But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never ever thought to do <em>> this) - Call the three national credit reporting organizations <em>> immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and SS#. I had never <em>> heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an <em>> application for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert <em>> means any company that checks your credit knows your information was <em>> stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit. <em>> <em>> By the time I was advised to do this, almost 2 weeks after the theft, <em>> all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit <em>> checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about <em>> before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been <em>> done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned <em>> it in). It seems to have stopped them in their tracks. <em>> <em>> The numbers are: <em>> Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 <em>> Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742 <em>> Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289 <em>> Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271 <em>> <em>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] <em>> <em>> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> <em>> Secure your servers with 128-bit SSL encryption! Grab your copy of VeriSign's FREE Guide: "Securing Your Web Site for Business." Get it Now! <em>> http://us.click.yahoo.com/n7RbFC/zhwCAA/yigFAA/89EolB/TM <em>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> <em>> <em>> You voluntairly subscribed to this mailing. You are free to unsubscribe at any time. You can unsubscribe by sending an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To access any advanced features of this mailing list goto http://groups.yahoo.com <em>> <em>> <em>> <em>> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ <p>================================================ BRLUG - The Baton Rouge Linux User Group Visit http://www.brlug.net for more information. 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