Thought you might find the following very helpful in protecting your identity……LeeA corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company:* 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.
* When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOTput 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 won’t have access to it.* 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. Never have your SS# printed on your checks (DUH!) you can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.* 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, credit cards, etc.
Unfortunately I, an attorney, have firsthand 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, received a PIN number from DMV to change my 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:
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 easily.
* File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).
But here’s what is perhaps most important: (I never even thought to do this).
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 in their tracks.
The numbers are:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
Pass this information along. It could really help someone you care about.
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HISTORY DETECTIVES.
There’s a story behind everything. And they know how to find it.
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This weekend, I actually put a light in the ceiling of our home office. I wired the thing ALL BY MYSELF! Unbelievable. Let me give you some background on this. 
It’s funny how we automatically doubt that someone can do a good, hard job… when we don’t even know them! 
doubted that I would make it through Bob Jones University! Every time the phone rang, they thought it was the Dean of Women! Now, I did get in trouble a couple times, got caught kissing my boyfriend (now husband) on campus while a tour of the University was going on… oye vey. But alas… I graduated in 1999! Got married in December that year!
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has asked Ben & Jerry’s to make ice cream using human breast milk instead of cow’s milk. PETA says cow’s milk has been linked to juvenile diabetes, allergies, constipation, obesity, and prostate and ovarian cancer. Ben & Jerry’s responded saying, “We applaud PETA’s novel approach to bringing attention to an issue, but we believe a mother’s milk is best used for her child.”