Spanish Joe
The World's Only
Psychic Groundhog!
Monthly Predictions - May 2005
Spanish Joe Says “Prevent Identify Theft”
Spanish Joe is getting serious this month
on a problem close to his rodent heart (he once lost his id and was
taken for a very large rat in many fine establishments)
Here are a just a few tips and suggestions...
* The next time you order cheques, include only your initials (instead
of full first name) on the pre-printed information. If someone takes
your chequebook, they will not know your full name or if you sign your
cheques with just your initials or your first name, but your financial
institution does.
* If you have a steady full time job, consider putting your work phone
number on your cheques instead of your home phone.
* If you have a PO box, use that on your cheques instead of your home
address. If you do not have a PO box, consider using your work address.
* When you are writing cheques to pay on your credit card accounts, DO
NOT put the complete account number on the “Memo” 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 cheque as it passes though
all the cheque processing channels won’t have access to it.
* Destroy all cheques immediately after you close a chequing account.
Destroy or keep in a secure place any courtesy cheques that your bank or
credit card company sends you.
* Do not have your bank send your new cheques to your home address. Tell
them that you prefer to pick them up.
* Do not toss pre-approved credit offers in the trash or recycling bins
without first tearing them into small pieces or shredding them. Dumpster
divers use these offers to order credit cards in your name and mail to
their address. Invest in a personal shredder, they are very inexpensive!
One should always do the same with other sensitive information like
credit card receipts, phone bills and any such financial or personal
information. Avoid credit repair scams.
* Avoid those free offers and winner notifications (by email, phone or
mail! A good rule of thumb is “if it is too good to be true....... it
is!”
* Do not sign the back of your credit cards, instead, put “PHOTO ID
REQUIRED”.
* Do not carry your extra credit cards, social insurance card, birth
certificate or passport in your wallet or purse except when necessary.
This practice minimizes the amount of information a thief can steal.
* Never give any credit card, bank or social insurance information to
anyone by telephone, only provide your ID and credit card information
over the phone to reputable and legitimate companies where you have
initiated the call.
* If you receive a call from someone claiming to represent your credit
card issuer and the caller asks for your account number, do not provide
it. If the caller is employed by the issuer, they will know your number.
* To avoid family fraud, avoid family members access to your accounts.
If you allow access, you have just assumed the debt. And will they be as
responsible with your credit and personal information as you are?
* Photocopy the contents of your wallet, license, credit cards, bank
cards etc., copy both sides. If your wallet is stolen, you will know
exactly what was in it. On the photocopy, add the phone numbers of each
company or financial institution. You will have all the pertinent
information at hand (account numbers) and it will also make it easier
and quicker for your to report the stolen card to the appropriate place.
* Immediately report a stolen wallet to the police in the jurisdiction
it was stolen, especially if it involves stolen identification. INSIST
on receiving a complaint number. This proves to credit providers you
were diligent and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there
ever is one).
* Immediately report all stolen cards to the issuers and request new
credit cards.
* Notify your bank if your cheques were stolen and close your account.
* If your Social Insurance Card is missing, contact your employer or
your local Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) office immediately.
* If your Driver's License is missing, contact your local driver and
vehicle license issuing office.
* Always follow up notification by phone with written notification.
If you are a victim of fraud
* TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance Department at 1-877-525-3823 or for
Quebec residents 1-877-713-3393
* Equifax Credit Information Services Consumer Fraud Division at
1-800-465-766
Supportive Agency
* Phonebusters at 1-888-495-8501
