ID theft can be financial fraud, medical ID theft, tax fraud, criminal ID theft, Social Security fraud, child ID theft, benefits and employment fraud and title fraud. Identity theft is becoming more and more common each year. In 2018, hackers stole the personal information of 148 million Americans in a single breach. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, there are 74 robberies every hour in the United States – but nearly 2,000 identity theft events.
It’s not a matter of if, but rather “when”. If your information has ever been compromised in a breach, you are eleven times more likely to be a victim of identity theft. Thieves can steal more than just your money.
I suggest you don’t sign the back of your credit cards. I WRITE ‘PHOTO ID REQUIRED.’
DON’T put the complete account number on the ‘For’ line when you write a check. Instead, just put the last four numbers, as the card company knows the rest of the number. Put your work, not home, phone # on your checks or your PO Box and work address and never your SS#.
Consider copying both sides of your wallets contents. That way you have the account and phone numbers to call to cancel …if necessary. Our family also carries a photocopy of our passports when we travel.
To limit damage cancel credit cards immediately with the toll free numbers and your card numbers you have. File a police report which 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:
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.
Keep these numbers in your wallet:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union: 1-800-680 7289
Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
To be safer, do as our family does and consider signing up with Charles Jarrot, Century Credit Group Inc. 310 277-1300 to get 24/7 monitoring; alerts of any changes to credit reports; sex offender registry monitoring; bank account opening request notification; lien or public record notifications.
Dark Web Surveillance applies when someone writes a negative review of you or your business on the internet. Century Credit Group takes over all the recovery work. Century Identity Guard will take care of all the work to restore your identity, providing true white-glove service by a Certified Recovery Specialist.
They monitor your personal information and alert you when changes are detected, dramatically reducing your risk of becoming a victim
Charles Jarrot provides Customer Service 24/7/365 and whether you have a question or need to report an ID theft event, their U.S.-based support team is available around the clock for guidance and assistance. We use them because they protect against all types of ID Theft including financial fraud, medical ID theft, tax fraud, criminal ID theft, Social Security fraud, child ID theft, benefits and employment fraud and title fraud.
Remember: Silence is Golden and Handcuffs are Silver so DON’T TALK to POLICE without your lawyer’s permission.
I look upon my job as protecting the Constitutional Rights of every American who drinks, drives and gets arrested for a DUI or has an ACCIDENT.
I do however “Change Hats” when I SUE Drunk Drivers for damages to my Injured or Deceased (Wrongful Death) clients.
DALE GRIBOW
REPRESENTING THE INJURED AND CRIMINALLY ACCUSED
“TOP LAWYER” – California’s Prestige Magazine, Palm Springs Life 2011-19
“TOP LAWYER” – Inland Empire Magazine 2016- 2019
PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating
“PREEMINENT” Rating – Martindale Hubbell Legal Directory
“DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE OR TEXT AND GET A DUI OR ACCIDENT. CALL A TAXI, LYFT OR UBER. THEY ARE A LOT CHEAPER THAN CALLING ME”. SO DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE ARTICLE? CONTACT DALE GRIBOW 760-837-7500/ dale@dalegribowlaw.com.
