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The following information was picked up from an email message forwarded by an a corporate attorney and sent out to the employees in his company. On this basis the same is shared with you for whatsoever purpose in your own judgment you may find it useful.

1. The next time you order checks from your bank have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name printed on them. If you lose or someone takes your checkbook, a forger 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. Then if a forger signs one of your check with your initials and your bank mistakenly pays the check, you are more likely to get your money credited back to your account.

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

3. 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. Your 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 the full information.

4. Put your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a P. O. Box, use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a P. O. Box, use your work address. Never have your Social Security Number printed on your checks. You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it. Also remember as of September 1, 2005, if anyone requires your SSN in order for you to obtain commercial goods or services, you are entitled to a copy of their written privacy policy with respect to the use and protection which they afford such information or you are not required to give it.

5. 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, and credit cards.

Unfortunately, some folks have firsthand knowledge of the harm and trouble that can result from lack of information about the contents of their wallet or purse if it is lost or stolen. Within a short time thieve(s) have been known to ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, apply for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change 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:

1. 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.

2. 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:(I never even thought to do this.)

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

The original author of these suggestions wrote "By the time I was advised to do this, almost two 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 dead in their tracks."

Here are the numbers you need to contact if your wallet or purse has been lost or stolen:

• Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
• Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
• Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
• Social Security (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

Receive a free credit report from the credit unions at: http://www.annualcreditreport.com/

If you are willing to pass this information along, it could really help someone that you care about.

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