Bank takes into account that charge was bogus

Dear Heloise: Sometime back, you had a column on identity theft. A year ago, mine was stolen; I got a call from a bank detective asking if I'd recently charged $1,500. I didn't even know I still had an account with his bank, and I had not used the card nor received any mail from the bank in a few years.
How did I get my identity stolen? I asked. Seems someone used some software to come up with names and numbers. When a name and number matched my name and credit-card number, well, the transaction went through. I didn't have to pay, but this shows how this type of identity theft is much different from finding something in someone's trash or not shredding statements, etc. Just wanted to let you know. Bob, via e-mail
Bob, this is as scary as heck! Congratulations to the bank for being on top of this type of theft. A good point for my readers, too -- monitor or close out accounts you don't use often or at all. Heloise
Dear Heloise: No one can ever be too clear on this ... or too literal. During the initial training for the newsroom on the computer system at The Houston Post starting back in 1975, I always emphasized that passwords were not to be shared -- that it was important for passwords to be kept secret, although usernames were public. When the Post closed in 1995 and I had to clear everything before shipping the system (when the Houston Chronicle sold it to the Honolulu paper), I discovered that more than half of the newsroom's staff was using the word "secret" as the password. M.R. in Houston
Dear Heloise: I do a lot of catalog shopping and have come up with a system that keeps it all in order.
When I place an order, I write the information on the front of the catalog: date, dollar amount spent, confirmation, etc. Then I dog-ear the pages and put the catalog in a specific pile.
Every so often, I sort through the pile and trash/recycle the ones that I have received my order from. If the transaction is somehow not complete (for instance, if I had to return something), I put it back in the pile until it is done. This way, I can see at a glance what was ordered and when, if an order is overdue, etc. It has saved me several times when a company somehow messed up the order. Valery in Virginia
Dear Heloise: I'm retired and provide child care for several families. In the event of a child having an emergency, it would be a good idea to have your address on your phone.
One can get so anxious; your own address can totally escape you when making an emergency call. Return-address labels would work well. They are also great for teenage sitters. Rose, via e-mail
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate