Make sure your money doesnıt end up in a thiefıs account
2007-04-17
Attorney Mari Frank knew something was terribly wrong as soon as her bank
called regarding an outstanding $11,000 bill she knew nothing about. ³I was
really frightened,² she says. ³I didnıt know what to do.²
Frank regained her wits and immediately phoned the 3 major credit agencies
to tell them a fraudulent account had been opened in her name. She learned
that an impostor had stolen $50,000 and purchased a red Mustang
convertible to boot. The identity thief had worked as a secretary at a law
firm and accessed Frankıs credit report from an online subscription service.
Almost one year after that first phone call (and hours of detective work,
letter writing and telephone calls) Frank had her good name and credit back.
But the experience changed her life forever. She continues to practice law,
but she now also serves as a privacy consultant and has written the books
³From Victim to Victor: A Step-By-Step Guide for Ending the Nightmare of
Identity Theft² and the ³Identity Theft Survival Kit.²
Affecting about 900,000 people a year, identity theft costs the average
victim more than $1,000 to cope with the damages from identity theft.
These five important steps can help protect your name, credit and
reputation:
1. Review Your Credit Report from each of the 3 major credit agencies
(Equifax, Transunion and Experian) twice a year. See if there are accounts
or addresses you donıt recognize. Is your social security number correct?
Have there been more credit inquiries than normal? Any of these may be early
signs of identity theft. If you find something suspicious on your credit
report, call the agencyıs fraud hotline immediately. You may also want to
add a consumer fraud alert, which asks creditors to call you each time a new
account is opened in your name.
2. Limit the Use of Your Social Security Number. Never give it to someone
who calls you on the phone, donıt carry the card in your wallet and never
print it on your checks.
3. Shred Important Papers especially credit card solicitations with a
crosscut shredder. Some identity thieves piece cut papers back together.
4. Donıt Use Your Motherıs Maiden Name as a password on personal accounts;
itıs too easy to learn.
5. Safeguard Check Use. When writing checks to pay credit card accounts,
donıt put the complete account number on the ³for² or ³memo² line. Consider
putting your work phone number on your checks instead of your home number.
Jeffrey McAninch is a sales representative with Liberty Mutual Group in
South Portland. Liberty Mutualıs Identity Fraud Expense Coverage is
available as a homeowners insurance endorsement in Maine for $24/year,
providing up to $15,000 of coverage per occurrence and the free services of
an identity theft crisis resolution counselor. Call Jeffrey at 871-9000,
ext. 408.
called regarding an outstanding $11,000 bill she knew nothing about. ³I was
really frightened,² she says. ³I didnıt know what to do.²
Frank regained her wits and immediately phoned the 3 major credit agencies
to tell them a fraudulent account had been opened in her name. She learned
that an impostor had stolen $50,000 and purchased a red Mustang
convertible to boot. The identity thief had worked as a secretary at a law
firm and accessed Frankıs credit report from an online subscription service.
Almost one year after that first phone call (and hours of detective work,
letter writing and telephone calls) Frank had her good name and credit back.
But the experience changed her life forever. She continues to practice law,
but she now also serves as a privacy consultant and has written the books
³From Victim to Victor: A Step-By-Step Guide for Ending the Nightmare of
Identity Theft² and the ³Identity Theft Survival Kit.²
Affecting about 900,000 people a year, identity theft costs the average
victim more than $1,000 to cope with the damages from identity theft.
These five important steps can help protect your name, credit and
reputation:
1. Review Your Credit Report from each of the 3 major credit agencies
(Equifax, Transunion and Experian) twice a year. See if there are accounts
or addresses you donıt recognize. Is your social security number correct?
Have there been more credit inquiries than normal? Any of these may be early
signs of identity theft. If you find something suspicious on your credit
report, call the agencyıs fraud hotline immediately. You may also want to
add a consumer fraud alert, which asks creditors to call you each time a new
account is opened in your name.
2. Limit the Use of Your Social Security Number. Never give it to someone
who calls you on the phone, donıt carry the card in your wallet and never
print it on your checks.
3. Shred Important Papers especially credit card solicitations with a
crosscut shredder. Some identity thieves piece cut papers back together.
4. Donıt Use Your Motherıs Maiden Name as a password on personal accounts;
itıs too easy to learn.
5. Safeguard Check Use. When writing checks to pay credit card accounts,
donıt put the complete account number on the ³for² or ³memo² line. Consider
putting your work phone number on your checks instead of your home number.
Jeffrey McAninch is a sales representative with Liberty Mutual Group in
South Portland. Liberty Mutualıs Identity Fraud Expense Coverage is
available as a homeowners insurance endorsement in Maine for $24/year,
providing up to $15,000 of coverage per occurrence and the free services of
an identity theft crisis resolution counselor. Call Jeffrey at 871-9000,
ext. 408.