Identity Theft Laws
Definitions:
Identity -
- the condition of being oneself or itself, and not another;
- condition or character as to who a person or what a thing is;
- the state or fact of being the same one as described.
Identity Theft -
- the fraudulent appropriation and use of someone's identifying or personal data or documents
- the co-option of another person's personal information
- the stealing of a person's information, with the intention of using that data to commit fraud and create a phony persona
1998 - Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act
Made Identity Theft illegal
2004 - Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act
Increased the penalties for Identity Theft
I will use the abbreviation IDT
throughout this site for Identity Theft
Identity Theft - The stealing of a person's information with the intention of using that data to commit fraud and create a phony persona. In addition, 76% of all identity theft has a criminal component attached to it.
Your identity is meant to be unique to YOU and ONLY YOU....
Unfortunately.....
YOU may not be YOU anymore!!
What I mean to say is, IDT is the #1 crime in America and is a multi-trillion (Yes, with a 'T') dollar problem worldwide. My intention is not to scare anyone but to be a source of information to help people become aware at how far reaching and devastating IDT actually is. To my dismay, the general public does not know the half of it!
Identity Theft is a worldwide problem.
The TV plays cute little commercials with guys talking like women and women talking like men. entertaining, although in my opinion there humorous commercials down play the severity and devastating effects that IDT actually has on people.
IDT IS NOT something to joke about!
Financial IDT is only one part of the problem and actually only 26% of IDT. I cover all areas of Identity Theft in IDT Areas. People have the impression that if somebody steals you credit cards or writes bad checks, you are not at fault and the bank or credit card company will erase that debt for No Fault of your own.
This is not the case!!
There are time frames when these discrepancies on your credit card statement has to be addressed and the company has to be notified. If you do not writ your letter or contact them, guess what..... the debt could potentially be yours!!!
For example, if someone steals your PIN number and credit card information then uses this information to withdraw money from an ATM....
...And you notify the financial institution
- Within 2 business days consumer liability losses limited to $50
- After 2 business day but less than sixty (60) days, consumer liability losses limited to $500
- If reported after sixty (60) days, consumer liability loss is unlimited
- The Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) - Consumer Liability and Reporting Timelines
This is the law and it is up to the individual bank or credit card company to be as strict or lenient with this law per their policies.
Beware of the different IDT products on the market. I address a vast majority and categorize them in my IDT Protection Plans page.
All Identity Theft Protection Plans are not created equal!!
As a Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist (CITRMS), I have completed extensive training on IDT, IDT Laws and read many of the IDT protection plan policies on the market today.
IDT is not going to just go away!!
You cannot prevent Identity Theft
although you can decrease your
exposure by changing a few habits.
Don't let anyone try to convince you that they can prevent IDT. The reality is....
...if you build a 10 foot wall around yourself,
identity thieves will build a 12 foot ladder.
Identity Theft is the #1 complaint filed with the FTC.
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