A few common sense ways to save your family finances and protect your credit.

Checking Account

The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them.  If someone takes your checkbook, 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.

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. (DUH!)  You can add it if it is necessary.  But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

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.

Credit Cards

Do not sign the back of your credit cards.   Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED".

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.

Carry a photocopy of you passport when 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.

Critical  information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:
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.

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).

Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number.  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.

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