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accounting services, investment advice, or professional consulting of any kind. The information provided herein should not be used
as a substitute for consultation with professional tax, accounting, legal, or other competent advisers. Before making any decision or
taking any action, you should consult a professional advisor who has been provided with all pertinent facts relevant to your particular
situation.
The author of the tax articles in this e-newsletter did not intend nor write the advice to be used to avoid any penalty imposed by a
taxing authority, nor may any user/recipient of this document use this document's written tax advice for that purpose. This document's
tax advice was written specifically to support the promotion or marketing of the transaction/matter addressed by the written tax advice.
Therefore, any user/recipient of this document should seek an independent tax professional's advice regarding the user/recipient's
particular circumstances.
The information is provided "as is" with no assurance or guarantee of completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information, and
without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability, and fitness for
a particular purpose.
The information in this e-newsletter is for general guidance only, and does not constitute the provision of legal advice, tax advice,
accounting services, investment advice, or professional consulting of any kind. The information provided herein should not be used
as a substitute for consultation with professional tax, accounting, legal, or other competent advisers. Before making any decision or
taking any action, you should consult a professional advisor who has been provided with all pertinent facts relevant to your particular
situation.
The author of the tax articles in this e-newsletter did not intend nor write the advice to be used to avoid any penalty imposed by a
taxing authority, nor may any user/recipient of this document use this document's written tax advice for that purpose. This document's
tax advice was written specifically to support the promotion or marketing of the transaction/matter addressed by the written tax advice.
Therefore, any user/recipient of this document should seek an independent tax professional's advice regarding the user/recipient's
particular circumstances.
The information is provided "as is" with no assurance or guarantee of completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information, and
without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability, and fitness for
a particular purpose.
| Serving the Central Pennsylvania area since 1981 |
| Robert A. Romako, CPA |
| Easy Ways to Safeguard Your Identity |
A client of mine sent me an article a while ago that contained a number of practical tips to help
you fight identity theft. I recently saw the same article again, appreciated its importance even
more the second time, and so decided to adapt it to share it with my readers. It was written by an
attorney after being victimized by identity theft after he lost his wallet.
Steps to take before a theft
1. Never sign the back of your credit card on the signature line. Instead, write “photo ID
required”. I’ve done this with my own cards, and have come to appreciate the stores and
salespeople who actually take the time to check.
2. Never write your complete credit card number on the memo line of your checks.
The credit card company can identify your payment if you note just the last 4 digits of your
account. Meanwhile, anyone else handling your check will not have access to your credit card
number. I’ve just started doing this with my own credit card payments and, yes, the credit card
companies do figure out how to apply your payment correctly.
3. Never preprint your Social Security number on your checks. If you have to note it
(such as when making a tax payment), just write it in on the memo line.
4. Consider using your business phone number on your checks, rather than a
personal number that thieves may use for identification purposes. The author also suggests
using a post office box, rather than showing your home address, or using a business address
instead.
5. Make a photocopy (front and back sides) of all documents you carry in your purse
or wallet, and keep it in a safe but accessible location. If they’re stolen, you’ll have all the
information you’ll need to report the loss, and you won’t overlook a company to call. While you’re
at it, list the toll-free contact numbers for your credit card companies so they’re readily
accessible, too.
Steps to take after a theft
1. Call and cancel all credit cards immediately. Do not wait to see if your wallet or purse
“shows up”. Use the phone numbers you diligently recorded as part of item 5 above.
2. File a police report in the jurisdiction where the loss occurred. This helps
demonstrate your due diligence in trying to minimize your losses, and may be important to have
fraudulent charges removed from your accounts.
3. Call the 3 national credit reporting companies and tell them to place a fraud alert on
your account. In addition, call the Social Security fraud line number. By notifying the credit
bureaus that your information was stolen, they must contact you by telephone to authorize any
new credit. This effectively prevents any additional charges to your accounts. The credit company
and Social Security numbers are:
• Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
• Experian: 1-888-397-3742
• Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
• Social Security fraud line: 1-800-269-0271
Today’s security thieves know the system, and how to act quickly. They rely on your lack of
knowledge and slow response to carry out their dirty work and avoid discovery. That’s why proper
preparation can help you keep your losses to a minimum.
you fight identity theft. I recently saw the same article again, appreciated its importance even
more the second time, and so decided to adapt it to share it with my readers. It was written by an
attorney after being victimized by identity theft after he lost his wallet.
Steps to take before a theft
1. Never sign the back of your credit card on the signature line. Instead, write “photo ID
required”. I’ve done this with my own cards, and have come to appreciate the stores and
salespeople who actually take the time to check.
2. Never write your complete credit card number on the memo line of your checks.
The credit card company can identify your payment if you note just the last 4 digits of your
account. Meanwhile, anyone else handling your check will not have access to your credit card
number. I’ve just started doing this with my own credit card payments and, yes, the credit card
companies do figure out how to apply your payment correctly.
3. Never preprint your Social Security number on your checks. If you have to note it
(such as when making a tax payment), just write it in on the memo line.
4. Consider using your business phone number on your checks, rather than a
personal number that thieves may use for identification purposes. The author also suggests
using a post office box, rather than showing your home address, or using a business address
instead.
5. Make a photocopy (front and back sides) of all documents you carry in your purse
or wallet, and keep it in a safe but accessible location. If they’re stolen, you’ll have all the
information you’ll need to report the loss, and you won’t overlook a company to call. While you’re
at it, list the toll-free contact numbers for your credit card companies so they’re readily
accessible, too.
Steps to take after a theft
1. Call and cancel all credit cards immediately. Do not wait to see if your wallet or purse
“shows up”. Use the phone numbers you diligently recorded as part of item 5 above.
2. File a police report in the jurisdiction where the loss occurred. This helps
demonstrate your due diligence in trying to minimize your losses, and may be important to have
fraudulent charges removed from your accounts.
3. Call the 3 national credit reporting companies and tell them to place a fraud alert on
your account. In addition, call the Social Security fraud line number. By notifying the credit
bureaus that your information was stolen, they must contact you by telephone to authorize any
new credit. This effectively prevents any additional charges to your accounts. The credit company
and Social Security numbers are:
• Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
• Experian: 1-888-397-3742
• Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
• Social Security fraud line: 1-800-269-0271
Today’s security thieves know the system, and how to act quickly. They rely on your lack of
knowledge and slow response to carry out their dirty work and avoid discovery. That’s why proper
preparation can help you keep your losses to a minimum.
FEBRUARY 2010 NEWSLETTER ARTICLE
| Robert A. Romako, CPA 220 Haldeman Avenue New Cumberland, PA 717.774.3047 |