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Stay Safe Street Tip #29
"Credit Card Theft and Valentine Day Gift Certificates"
Click here for: Valentine Certificate for free book
Click here for: Valentine Certificate for free class
Good afternoon Folks. I
hope that all are well and staying safe. A couple of brief announcements before
we get to the topic at hand:
1. The new Knights Shooting Sports Complex is making real progress. The shooting
range portion of the Complex is complete except for the target retrieval system.
That system should be in place within 7 to 10 days. They are completing the
landscaping, retail space, control room and site work. The range lighting is a
very pleasant surprise as is the evacuation system. It definitely appears, to my
experienced eye, that this Complex will establish a new standard for public
shooting ranges in the future. The projected completion date is February 28,
2002.
2. I have attached samples of Valentine's Day Gift Certificates. These
certificates may be designated as gifts for Concealed Weapons Permit Classes,
Tactical Firing Classes, Florida Firearms Law Books, Coronado Leather Products
and Residential and Business Security Surveys. Please contact me if you are
interested in obtaining a Certificate for that "Special Someone" for Valentine's
Day.
3. Per discussion with Mark Martenfeld, Knight Shooting Sports, I am resuming
the Tactical Handgun Course effective March 9, 2002. Please contact me if you
are interested in signing up for this course, as spaces are limited to 12
people. By the way, First Come, First Served!
I received this information from George, a very good friend of our family. From
our personal experience when my wife had her wallet, credit cards and I.D.
stolen this information may protect you from pain, misery, sleepless nights,
monetary loss and monumental aggravation. Economic crime indicators reflect that
the future for "white collar" criminals involves identity and credit card theft.
Based on our experience, we immediately purchased a home shredder and have made
it a habit that every scrap of paper with either our names, address, account
numbers, check numbers and other written communications that arrive by mail is
shredded. It is also strongly recommended that you keep a SECURE listing of all
credit card, checking account and contact numbers. If you do experience a loss,
go directly to your SECURE list and contact everyone immediately. Within 30
minutes of my wife's notice of the theft there was attempted usage of a credit
card at a local store. Luckily, my astute wi! fe had all credit and checking
accounts closed within 20 minutes of the discovery, thereby suffering no loss
whatsoever. But it was a major lesson in aggravation trying to stay one step
ahead of the Scumbag and replacing all lost items and identification.
Hope to see you on the new range. Norm
STAY SAFE AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!
WHAT TO DO IF YOU LOSE YOUR PURSE OR WALLET: We've all heard horror stories
about fraud that's committed in your name, address, SS#, credit, etc.
Unfortunately I (the author of this piece who happens to be an attorney)
have firsthand knowledge, because my wallet was stolen last month and
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. As everyone always advises, cancel
your 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 ever thought to do
this)
Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place
a fraud alert on your name and SS#. I had never heard of doing that until
advised by a bank that called to tell me and 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 2 weeks after the theft, all the damag! e 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: 800-525-6285
Experience (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742
Trans Union: 800-680-7289
Social Security Administration (fraud line): 800-269-0271
We pass along jokes; we pass along just about everything. Do think about
passing this information along. It could really help someone.
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