Identity Theft

[Janarth]

I think during another topic (that I shall not resurect) we touched upon the harm caused by identity thieves. For shits, kicks and giggles, check out the following link:

http://www.idtheftcenter.org/breaches.pdf

I also seem to remember someone saying that you have to be idiot to be a victim of identity theft, and that they "only do business with people who can protect their shit". Some highlights on that list include ADP (tons of small and large businesses outsource their payroll to ADP), JP Morgan, Bank of A, Sams Club, TransUnion (yeah, good luck never using them...), the US Air Force and the US Army.

My only point is: Identity Theft will be the biggest public worry. Discuss if you feel like it.

[Wezas]

Originally posted by Janarth
My only point is: Identity Theft will be the biggest public worry. Discuss if you feel like it.

According to Fox News it's way down on the list.

Asian Gangs, Oozing Black Run-off, Pandemic Flu, "Is what you're feeding your children killing them?", etc.

[kookiegod]

I agree.

Identity theft is rapidly becoming the crime of choice in the electronic age.

As I run a background investigations company (well, I did till I sold it earlier this year, now I am a Vice President for one of the largest in the country), I've been at high level symposias with the credit bureaus, the FBI, and many other state and federal agencies.

The problem of course is, its also the catchall people who are delinquent in their payments use to avoid responsibility for their own problems, thus making it difficult to sort out the legitimate claims from those that are not.

The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA), added in key sections to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), detailing consumers rights and responsibilities for identity theft, as well as the credit bureaus.

You can find summaries of the laws, as well as the government's paper on ID theft at www.ftc.gov/credit.

Just a little 'light' reading.

~me