Making it harder to steal your stuff

Business of Life™: Free advice from a lawyer

Terrific collection of very clever tips for avoiding identity thefts and general larceny. My favorites (quoting):

• When next you order checks, have only the initials of your first name printed. 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
• 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.
• 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. While you’re at it, make a photocopy of your passport.

Remember the “sick box” and the “blackout box?” Might be smart to also put together a “lost wallet box.”

[Link: Lifehacker]