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#1VoIPFan
Seeker
Joined: June 12, 2004
Posts: 70
Location: Shanghai for now, next unknown
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
Mar 08, 2005 - 01:44 PM |
 
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| Post subject: Identify Theft Protection |
Subject: Identity Theft Protection
ATTORNEY'S ADVICE -- NO CHARGE!! Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice! A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company.
ADVICE -- NO CHARGE!! Read this and make a copy for your records
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 won't 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. But 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. I also carry a photocopy of my passport when 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. 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:
1. 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.
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).
But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)
3. Call the 3 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, etc., has been stolen:
1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about everything. But if you are willing to pass this information along, it could really help someone that you care about |
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sinned69
SuperStar
Joined: Sep 01, 2004
Posts: 1532
Location: China, Middle East, Asia Pacific
Status: Offline
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Mar 08, 2005 - 02:24 PM |
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great american advice, for americans, in america  |
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qing nin shao deng |
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Howie
Seeker
Joined: Mar 05, 2005
Posts: 72
Status: Offline
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Mar 13, 2005 - 11:33 AM |
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The thieves in Shanghai are so cunning and well-informed in using credit infos stolen from us, and pick-pockets' happenings are ubiquitous like that in Rome, we should be very careful with keeping our credit cards in the wallet and it's suggestive that we shouldn't bring more than 1 card out shopping. Take care! |
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frenchlover1999
Shanghai Royalty
Joined: Sep 18, 2004
Posts: 8730
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Mar 13, 2005 - 12:37 PM |
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and pick-pockets' happenings are ubiquitous like that in Rome
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Not sure which parallel Shanghai you are living in. As far as I have experienced in the past 6 years living here, and the past 10 years with frequent business trips here, I can say Shanghai is MUCH safer than most European cities. I think we all know that, except some of the Land-of-God-Free-t¡bet-Independ-Taiwan-I-Hate-China-Hell-On-Hearth propagandists out there.
Latest News from the Land of the Free, Land of God:
BROOKFIELD, Wis. - A gunman opened fire Saturday at a church service being held at a hotel, killing seven people before taking his own life, authorities said. |
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That was no shark. That was my personal submarine. But enough of this polite conversation. What is the purpose of your visit? |
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good4kicks
LoopKicker
Joined: Jan 20, 2004
Posts: 955
Status: Offline
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Mar 13, 2005 - 04:43 PM |
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frenchlover: You have indicated that you are a consultant so I would like to point out a key difference between people like you and people like me.
Consultants have one thing in common. They never have to implement anything. Their output is simply a document and when the plan they submitted in their report doesn't work, they find a way to slither out of taking any responsibility and somehow blame the managers charged with the implementation of the recommendations they made.
If I never had to implement anything in China and my only task was to produce reports, my life would be so much easier and most importantly, it would be hard for the chinese to cheat me. I would have a wonderful experience here just like you. |
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frenchlover1999
Shanghai Royalty
Joined: Sep 18, 2004
Posts: 8730
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Mar 13, 2005 - 05:04 PM |
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Good try, although irrelevant, and unfortunately I am not this kind of consultant. We do build things that are used in many industrial plants and infrastructure projects all over the country. And I run the business so I am responsible for hiring, firing, revenue, P&L and get my ass kicked if I dont meet targets. I deal with Chinese partners, customers, competitors and employees on a daily basis, in fact almost 100% of my business in the past 6 years has been with local clients, usually government. Try something else. |
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That was no shark. That was my personal submarine. But enough of this polite conversation. What is the purpose of your visit? |
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good4kicks
LoopKicker
Joined: Jan 20, 2004
Posts: 955
Status: Offline
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Mar 13, 2005 - 05:17 PM |
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OK then.
Consultants and chinese have one thing in common. They both belong to the family of parasites. The difference is that consultants are like leeches: they tend to fall off the host when they feel full. The chinese however, are somewhat like a tick, embedding themselves in the host, taking as much as they can, never stopping, while releasing toxins that ultimately paralyse the host. |
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frenchlover1999
Shanghai Royalty
Joined: Sep 18, 2004
Posts: 8730
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Mar 13, 2005 - 05:31 PM |
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 Seems they havent got you yet, you thick-skinned bastard. Most likely it is only a matter of time. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! |
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That was no shark. That was my personal submarine. But enough of this polite conversation. What is the purpose of your visit? |
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Benoist_Shanghai
Low Seater
Joined: May 18, 2003
Posts: 3057
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Mar 13, 2005 - 06:17 PM |
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Good4kicks, what you are referring to is somehow outdated.
It was the norm until maybe 5 or 8 years ago?
In many cases now, consultants do implement their recommendations, at least partly and/or receive up to 50% of their fee in the form of success fees.
And this is indeed fortunate in quite a few situations.
Benoist. |
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good4kicks
LoopKicker
Joined: Jan 20, 2004
Posts: 955
Status: Offline
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Mar 13, 2005 - 07:04 PM |
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benoist: thanks for your comments.
the last consultant I used was from Oliver Wight for MRPII Class A accreditation and they did exactly what I described above. However, that was about 4 years ago already. I also used Anderson (forced down on me by the board) before they went under and their expensive solutions came with disclaimers and all. |
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Benoist_Shanghai
Low Seater
Joined: May 18, 2003
Posts: 3057
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Mar 13, 2005 - 07:27 PM |
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Good4kicks, note that I am not saying that was you decribed does not exist and happen anymore. But things evolved and clients are very less prone to accept recommendations taken from the rack and demand some degree of implementation to make sure that it's not only useless crap but is really designed to their needs and does match their expectations. Success fees come in this context.
b. |
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bougie
Board Buddha
Joined: Nov 20, 2004
Posts: 13424
Location: Wuhan Hubei China
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Apr 19, 2005 - 09:06 PM |
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Interesting discussion...
We have hired a consultant in our company to implement TS16949 quality system for automotive. He is not implementing anything, and is around maybe 1.5 days every 2 to 3 weeks. We constantly need to listen to his bullshiat about what he learned at Motorola... 
I'm glad I had nothing to do with hiring him, and am not accountable for this. Also glad that we have a pretty good driver internally ... so our success is pretty much based on ourselves, not him. Kinda what good4kicks is referring to I think |
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carrol
PopStar
Joined: Oct 11, 2004
Posts: 1122
Location: East of Eden
Status: Offline
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Apr 21, 2005 - 10:22 AM |
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I thought that point 2 of the post was quite a good suggestion. Having been robbed of my wallet in Shanghai, I am nowadays ultra cautious. |
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Carrol |
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sinned69
SuperStar
Joined: Sep 01, 2004
Posts: 1532
Location: China, Middle East, Asia Pacific
Status: Offline
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Apr 21, 2005 - 11:52 AM |
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be careful with ur personal belongings in sh, and china period. there are loads of pickpockets in many of the places where ppl congregate here. bus stops, train/subway stn., ppl square, nanjing walking street. they usually work in teams, and scope around looking for any opportunity at all and even will try anything to part you from anything and i mean anything they deem of potential value. i have personally caught and held 5 theives in shanghai, and watched 2 kids scoping out a bus stop full of chinese one evening in henzn zhong lu, oblivious to all the locals around that these 2 kids were theives just waiting for a prime target. amazing...
so be damn careful... |
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qing nin shao deng |
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Magnolia
Board Biatch
Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 31091
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Apr 21, 2005 - 12:22 PM |
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another disturbing way of stealing a ladies purse is when it is on her arm, one small child will dash up with a knife or pair of scissors and cut the straps while another kid will run in and grab the now free purse. happens in a flash.
my ayi lost an entire month's wages, her id card, all keys to homes she maintains and whatever else was in her purse to this method. and my other ayi (don't ask) had told me a few months ago that this way of stealing was on the increase. she even gave Caesara and I lessons on how to properly hold our purses. not that we do that but the gesture was kind. |
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BOYCOTT BENSON SALON |
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Madibaman
SuperStar
Joined: Dec 27, 2003
Posts: 1489
Location: Medicinal Planet
Status: Offline
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Apr 30, 2005 - 11:05 AM |
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I'm not sure if thieves here have gotten their hands on the technology yet, but another advice I could add is if you pay by credit card, try you best to not let it leave your sight. Credit card fraudsters usually work in groups and the friendly waiter you just passed your card to might just be one of the ring members.
What might happen is behind the cash counter, there's another device designed to steal whatever information that's stored in the magnetic strip of your card. Sowhile you think they're merely swiping your card legitimately, they're actually running it through the device. This device then stores your credit card information and replicates it onto another strip of a fake card. Voila, instant spending spree on your card, without your knowledge till you get a cardiac when you get your monthly statements. |
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Earth is full. Go home. |
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MrsBougie
Talker
Joined: Dec 13, 2004
Posts: 109
Status: Offline
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Apr 30, 2005 - 12:17 PM |
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I almost got stolen by a pickpocket yesterday afternoon at DongFa Rd. and Lan Cun Rd. Those are three ppl from XinJiang area. I saw those three ppl walk towards me, so I told myself be careful because of the bad reputation of the Xinjiang ppl. I looked back twice and didn't find them, so i felt a bit released. Just about 2 or 3 min later, I heard a guy shouted at me, it scared me, so I looked back, fcuk, the three XinJiang ppl were just behind me, and my purse was unziped already. While I checked my stuff, the Xinjiang ppl passed me with very angry looking in their faces. I was concerned about the guy who warned me if he would get revenge from those Xinjiang ppl. I searched through the crowd and found him smiling at me, then disappeared quickly in the crowd. |
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Magnolia
Board Biatch
Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 31091
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Apr 30, 2005 - 12:57 PM |
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Lucky for you that man was there to help, MrsBougie!
I remember walking with a local friend in XuJiaHui last year when all of the sudden he started shouting at the person in front of us. I didn't understand what was going on, but he later explained that the small children around the person were trying to get into the bag of the person in front of us. It was an effective action, because the children scattered. |
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BOYCOTT BENSON SALON |
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