(1/07)

VERY GOOD ADVICE FROM "MOM".... MOM'S KNOW BEST !! ONE MORE THING PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW... I WENT SHOPPING FOR MY MOTHER AND SHE SENT ME TO WALMART. SHE GAVE ME A CHECK ALREADY MADE OUT TO THEM BUT FORGOT TO SIGN IT.As I was paying for her purchases, I saw that there was NOT a signature and I also did NOT have any of her ID with me. The cashier said.. NO PROBLEM... took the check WITHOUT A SIGNATURE OR ID... and ran it through her register. Walmart now makes INSTANT deductions from your CHECKING ACCOUNT.I said to the girl... "what if I had dropped that check and someone else got it?" She responded, " no problem... when we RUN it through the cash register it is automatically VOIDED and can NOT be used again.."I told her, " That's good to know" but that is NOT what I was asking..

Let me say it another way... for instance... YOU are walking down the street... you DROP your PURSE. Everything FALLS out.. You hastily pick up all your "stuff" and shove it INTO your purse BUT you DID NOT PICK UP YOUR CHECK BOOK.Someone comes along and FINDS your check book. They go to WALMART and WRITE a check for groceries or whatever... It is NOT signed and apparently does NOT need to be signed. They do NOT ask for ID.... After the check is VOIDED and returned to THAT person.. they hand them a receipt from the cash register to SIGN... They still do NOT require ID... That person scribbles something on the signature line which is illegible and LEAVES with the purchases... YOU have just LOST $100. in purchases DEDUCTED from YOUR account

."She said, " Oh my gosh, I SEE what you mean"I said, " It's equal to YOU dropping a $100. bill on the ground and someone picking it up ONLY in this case it's your ENTIRE check book... "They don't really even LOOK at the name on the check... It would take a lot of TIME and MONEY for them to go through all the PHOTO's in their security camera and STILL would NOT be able to find out WHO did it or WHO the y are. GOT THE PICTURE ???More and MORE businesses ( since CHECK 21... Bush's deal ) went into effect, are USING this system. So NOW your checks are like CASH MONEY as long as there is CASH in the BANK

.JackieIn a message dated 1/24/2007 6:01:28 P.M. Central Standard Time, cals@valornet.com writes: Good advice from MOM.Regards,Subject: Attorney's advice_A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company._ 1. 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.

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. 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 will not have access to it.

4. 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. However, if you have it printed, anyone can get 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. Also carry a photocopy of your passport when traveling either here or abroad. We have all heard horror stories about fraud that is committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social Security number, credit cards

.6. When you check out of a hotel that uses cards for keys (and they all seem to do that now), do not turn the "keys" in. Take them with you and destroy them. Those little cards have on them all of the information you gave the hotel, including address and credit card numbers and expiration dates. Someone with a card reader, or employee of the hotel, can access all that information with no problem whatsoever.**Unfortunately, as an attorney, I have first hand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(s) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer and received a PIN number******from DMV to change my driving record information online.

Here is 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. 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). However, here is what is perhaps most important of all (I never even thought to do this.)

3. Call the three 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. 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. *Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet and contents being stolen:*1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-62852.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-37423.) TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289

4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about everything. Nevertheless, if you are willing to pass this information along, it could really help someone about who you care

From:  William Wright