This is obviously American advice - Australian's don't have Social Security numbers. I guess the closest thing is the Tax File Number.
However - the photocopying everything is *good* advice. I have heard similar advice about going overseas, which I follow - I always take several photocopies of the front page of my passport, and take one with me and leave one here with someone I can contact easily. If I then lose my passport or have it stolen it is then much easier to replace. Regs Brian White ( The list's lurking geek ... ) At 23:26 14/11/2002, Rhonda wrote:
I am not sure if these numbers work from Australia but the advice is good in this day and age. I would never have thought to photocopy what was in my purse.
Regards
Rhonda.
I don't know if a corporate attorney actually sent this out, but it sounds
like good advice.
A corporate attorney sent this out to the employees in his company...
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.
We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed against us in
stealing a name, address, Social Security, credit cards, etc. Unfortunately
I, an attorney, have firsthand 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: We have been told we should cancel your 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
easily.
File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen,
this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward
an investigation (if there ever is one).
But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never ever thought to do this)
Call the three 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 in their tracks.
The numbers are:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
We pass along jokes; we pass along just about everything. Do think about
passing this information along. It could really help someone.
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