Elder Law FAX The June 4, 2007, issue of Elder Law FAX, a free newsletter published every other Monday by the Elder Law Practice of Timothy L. Takacs.   Tips for Preventing Identity Theft It has always paid to be careful with your personal information, but its more important today than ever. As the old saying goes, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you. Well, theses days the "cyberthieves" may really be out to get you - or your financial identity anyway. There are, however, ways to protect yourself from identity theft. We have a few suggestions for you. 1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED." 2.  When you are writing checks to pay 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 Social Security Number printed on your checks. You can write it in if someone really needs it although these days, most people don't since they use automatic check approval machines. If you have your Social Security Number  printed on your checks, anyone can get it. 4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Copy both sides of each license, credit card, etc. That way you will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers if you need to call and cancel them. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. When you travel with your passport, you should also carry a photocopy of your passport. 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. Usually those numbers are printed on the back of the card or on your statement, but if the card is stolen then you'll want that information handy. Not all creditors and credit reporting bureaus respond appropriately when they are given the correct information. If they don't comply with the law, you should consider contacting a consumer law expert in your area. 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). 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. 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 always need to contact about 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 For more information on preventing identity theft, go to: http://www.nclc.org/issues/seniors_initiative/identity_theft.shtml