-----Original Message-----
From: Jacobucci, Scott [mailto:Scott.Jacobucci@ElPaso.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2002 8:29 AM
To: Barbara Edgerton (E-mail); Bert Cochran (E-mail); Williams, Bill;
Bob Chmielewski (E-mail); Dan Glen (E-mail); Dave Krumm (E-mail); Dave
Rubenstein (E-mail); Dawna J Stites (E-mail); Dennis Berlien (E-mail);
Ed Duckless (E-mail); Figueroa, Edgar; Eric Sveum (E-mail); George
Sampson (E-mail); Gordon Edgerton (E-mail); Forney, John M.; Laura
Colburn (E-mail); Wyatt, Richard; Robert F. Boehm (E-mail); Rosa Morin
(E-mail); Steve Jacobucci (E-mail); Tim Woodrum (E-mail 2); Van Hoppler
(E-mail)
Subject: FW: Useful Information about ID theft


> Good info to pass on!
> 
> 
> In this day and age of identity stealing and other scams, I thought this
> information would be useful to all of you. It comes from information I
> received from a friend of mine regarding ID theft. A corporate attorney
> sent
> this out to the employees in his company. It makes perfect sense! I pass
> it
> along, for your information..
> Here's what he writes:
> > Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine, do both sides
> > of each license, credit card, etc., you will then 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 in your
> > name, address, SS#, credit, etc. Unfortunately I (the author of
> > this piece who happens to be an attorney) have firsthand knowledge,
> > because my wallet was stolen last month and 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 on-line, and more.
> >
> > But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this
> > happens to you or someone you know. As everyone always
> > advises, 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 SS#.
> >
> > 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 2 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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