A lost or stolen credit card is not an uncommon disaster
during a vacation. There are steps you should take to
ensure the mishap doesn't escalate to personal bankruptcy.
Please read the following advice carefully.
1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead,
write "PHOTO ID REQUIRED."
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 # 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. You can add it if it is necessary. But if you
have it printed on the check, anyone can get it.
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's committed on us in stealing a Name, address,
Social Security number, credit cards. 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:
5. 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.
6. 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:
7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations
immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and
also call the Social Security fraud line 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.
Here are the numbers you need to contact if your wallet,
etc., has been stolen:
1.) Equifax: 800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union : 800-6807289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):800-269-0271