IDENTITY THEFT & FRAUD PREVENTION TIPS FOR SENIORS
 The next time you order checks, have only your initials (instead of your first name) and last name put on
them. If someone takes your checkbook, they will not know whether you sign your checks with just
your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks according to your
signature file.
 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 will now have access to it.
 Put your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a P.O. Box, use
that instead of your home address. If you do not have a P.O. Box, use your work address.
 Never have your Social Security Number printed on your checks. You can always add it on there if it is
necessary verification for a particular transaction, but when it is pre-printed anyone can get it.
 Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine and copy 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. It is also recommended that you carry a
photocopy of your passport whenever you are traveling in the U.S. or abroad.
 We have all been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately whenever they are stolen, but the
key is having the toll-free numbers and your card number handy so you will know whom to call. Write
those down and keep them in a secured place where you can find them easily so that you will have
access to all the necessary information when you contact your credit card company to report them
stolen.
 File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where the credit card(s) was stolen, as this proves to
the credit providers that you were diligent in your efforts to recover them and this is the first required
step towards an investigation (if there ever is one conducted).
 Call the three (3) national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name
and Social Security Number. The alert means that any company that checks your credit will know your
information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit. This will help in
preventing someone from trying to apply for credit using your name over the Internet, as there are
records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves’ purchases, none of which you would have known
about before placing the fraud alert. The numbers are:
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Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
Social Security Administration’s Fraud Line: 1-800-269-0271
1534 Dunwoody Village Parkway, Suite 204 • Dunwoody, GA 30338 • (770) 392-8952
www.homeinstead.com/105
Each Home Instead Senior Care franchise office is independently owned and operated.
www.society-csa.com
Joe Ward, Owner & CEO
Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)
1534 Dunwoody Village Parkway, Suite 204 • Dunwoody, GA 30338 • (770) 392-8952
www.homeinstead.com/105
Each Home Instead Senior Care franchise office is independently owned and operated.