Dear Neighbors,

This year I supported legislation in the Senate that would have dealt more effectively with ID theft, but unfortunately, the bill did not make it through the legislative process. I am confident that we will address this problem again next session and pass legislation that will provide citizens of the State of Alaska with more protection from mail fraud, credit card fraud, ID theft, and other similar crimes.

You can take immediate action to protect yourself from ID theft by:

1. Ordering your checks with your initials and last name rather than using your first name. If someone steals or finds your checkbook, they will not know how you sign your checks, but your bank will.
2. Putting your work phone number, rather than your home number, on your checks. Use your PO Box or work address rather than your home address. Never have your Social Security card number printed on your checks.
3. When writing checks to pay credit card accounts, do NOT put the complete account number on the check. Use only the last four digits.
4. NOT signing the back of your credit cards. Instead, write "PHOTO ID REQUIRED."
5. Copying the contents of your wallet. Photocopy both sides of each license, ID, and credit card. This way you will know what was in your wallet, what your account numbers are, and also what telephone numbers to call and who to inform in the case of the loss or theft of your wallet.
6. When checking out of a hotel that uses cards instead of keys, don't return those cards. All your credit card and personal information is stored on those cards and can be read by anyone who has access to a card reader.

If your purse or wallet is lost or stolen, you can limit the damage by taking the following steps:

1. Cancel your credit cards immediately. If you've photocopied the contents of your wallet, you will know your account numbers and who to call.
2. File a police report immediately. This will prove to your credit providers that you were diligent and it is the first step toward an investigation. Also, if your property is recovered and they have your information, the police can get it back to you.
3. MOST IMPORTANTLY, call the three national credit-reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. If you do this, any company that checks your credit will know that your information was stolen, and they will contact you by phone before authorizing any new credit.

Here are the numbers to contact if your wallet is stolen:

1. Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2. Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3. TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
4. Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

Following this advice will help protect you from financial loss and ID theft. I hope you will use this information and pass it along to your family and friends.

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