Identity Theft - Advice for preventing and reducing the impact of identity theft

I received this info in an email thread. It's actually great information and I thought I'd keep a copy here in my permanent files for reference. I've paired down some of the verbiage in a quest for short and sweet. Please email me with any suggestions for improvements or additions.

TO DO's

1. When you order checks, instead of using your first name(s), have only your initial(s) and last name printed on them. This way, 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. If you write checks to pay your credit card balances, don't put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers of your account. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and will be able to correctly credit your payment. This prevents anyone else who handles your check from obtaining your credit card account number though.
4. Instead of printing your home phone number on your checks, have your work number printed. Also, 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.
5. Never have your Social Security Number printed on your checks. If it's required on certain checks, write it while writing those checks. Protect your Social Security Number!
6. Make a photocopy of the front and back of the complete contents of your wallet. Then keep that photocopy somewhere safe (um, not in your wallet!) This will help you to contact any parties necessary to report lost or stolen items. If you need to,
   • Call on any credit/debit cards in the wallet. (The key is to have the toll free numbers and your card numbers on that photocopy.)
   • File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your items were stolen. This gives you verifiable proof that you made a diligent effort to stop any future theft or fraud which might come from use of your stolen items.
   • Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. This 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.
     • Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
     • Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
     • Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
     • Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

Keywords: preventing, reducing the impact of, identity theft, fraud