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| Bar Bulletin |
September,
2003
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| MSBA News |
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MSBA
Tips on Identity Protection
Editor’s
Note: As we all know, identity theft is a growing problem, cutting across all
walks of life. Our identity information is also threatened by loss of documents
through a robbery. Alexander Gordon IV, a solo practitioner in Easton, Maryland,
is offering precautions and protections to help every MSBA member guard against
and be prepared for the loss of these precious documents.
1.
The next time you order checks, have only your initials (instead of your
first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your check book,
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.
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.
3.
Put your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone number.
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 Social Security number
printed on your checks. Otherwise, anyone can get it. You can add it if it
is necessary.
4.
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
I travel either here or abroad. We’ve all heard horror stories about
fraud that is committed using a stolen name, address, Social Security number
or credit card.
Unfortunately
I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last
month. Within a week, the thieves 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 the MVA to change my driving
record information online and more. But in case this happens to you or someone
you know here is some critical information to limit the damage.
- Credit
cards should be cancelled immediately. Have the toll-free numbers as well
as your card numbers handy so you know whom to call, and keep them where
they can be found easily.
- File
a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen. This
proves to credit providers you were diligent, and it is a first step toward
an investigation (if there ever is one).
But
here’s what is perhaps most important (I never even 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 that
any company that checks your credit knows that your information was stolen
and that 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:
(800) 525-6285
- Experian
(formerly TRW): (888) 397-3742
- Trans
Union: (800) 680-7289
- Social
Security Administration (fraud line): (800) 269-0271
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