The Federal Trade Commission this month started enforcing new rules geared to fight identity theft, the fastest growing crime in the U.S. Tightening regulations that govern how online documents are stored and requiring verification of identification, both online and off, is expected to trim the number of identity-theft complaints. Last year, 314,000 Americans filed identity-theft complaints with the FTC. A rash of stolen identity cases seems to have swept the country in the past year, causing problems for thousands of citizens. From stolen VA medical files to theft of utility account information to driver's license records tossed in the trash, lack of due diligence and sometimes plain old common sense has incensed Americans.
While credit card fraud topped the complaint list, ID theft cases involving utility accounts opened under someone else's name (leaving the unaware consumer to pay the bills) accounted for 13% of cases reported to the FTC. Stolen identities used to commit medical fraud led to 1.3% of complaints. Under new FTC regulations, all health care providers must initiate a plan to verify the identity of patients. For example, patients may have to present a driver's license to verify their identity when they visit their physician.
It is hoped that new FTC regulations, most of which are clerical in nature, will provide necessary guidelines and procedures to help businesses and institutions adequately protect the personal information of their clients. People should expect a few more identifying questions when they call a company or go online to access their account. Presentation of a photo ID to verify identity when conducting business in person is expected to become the norm. The new regulations require that utility and medical information be kept locked when not in use and shredded when destroyed.
Identity theft is a serious crime in California, warns expert Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Stephen Rodriquez. California's fastest growing crime, identity theft is a type of fraud in which someone uses another person's name, Social Security number, date of birth, mother's maiden name, driver's license number, account number, password, or other personal identification information without authority or falsely poses as another individual to commit fraud or gain access to the other person's finances. Identity theft can carry significant consequences with severe penalties. More on Wednesday.
[...] Identity theft is California’s fastest growing crime. Stealing another person’s identity or personal information and using it to commit fraud or access another person’s finances is a serious crime in California. A national wave of high-profile identity theft cases has prompted the Federal Trade Commission to tighten federal regulations governing the storage of online documents and require identification verification, both online and onsite (see our May 4 post). [...]