Identity theft may be something that you read about in the papers. You think, “this could not happen to me.”
And yet, it HAS happened to me. Someone who had access to some basic personal information about me has accessed personal and business information and bank accounts and used it for criminal purposes - simply by “being me.”
There is no feeling in the world when you realize that someone is using information about you to gain access to your personal, private information. Information that should be only your own.
The online community has done a fairly good job of maintaining a basic level of privacy for its users. And yet, someone with the most basic information about you can use it for malicious, even criminal, purposes.
This criminal activity against me has cost $4,000 in legal expenses IN MARCH, 2008 ALONE, not to mention countless lost hours at work. And yet, so little is done on the law enforcement to prosecute the thugs that commit these crimes.
TAKE A STAND. PROTECT AND PROSECUTE.
STEPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF:
-Add additional passwords to your business and personal bank accounts. Make them totally arbitrary - so that no one knows them.
-Do not share passwords with anyone! If you need to type a password or state one over the phone - go into the other room. Or wait.
-If someone knows your date of birth, your SS#, and your mother’s maiden name - YOU ARE AT RISK. Be certain these three items do not make it into the hands of people you believe may be capable of using them against you for fraudulent or criminal purposes. Use passcodes OTHER than easy to remember or family information with all of your credit card, banking, lending, and brokerage accounts.
-Call the police IMMEDIATELY after you discover a problem. The Seattle Police were very responsive and came to my house to collect documentation and other proof of my ID theft. Make sure to use the services you pay for as a taxpayer to begin a paper trail for prosecution.
-Hire a lawyer and file a Protection or Anti-harassment order with the court. If you are aware of the person or entity committing a crime against you, commissioners or magistrates WILL quickly approve them. Again, part of the paper trail to prosecution.
-File a claim with the Federal Trade Commission. Their website is:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/index.html. The FTC works with local law enforcement to aid in building a case for prosecution.
-Know your banker! My personal and business banker has been very helpful in accelerating my case to in-market security and fraud departments so that they can run investigations concurrently with law enforcement.
PROSECUTION IS WORTH PURSUING.
In the State of Washington, identity theft is a Class B Felony. Thankfully, Washington State has some of the toughest guidelines for the prosecution of identity thieves. In fact, 70% of first time offenders convicted serve time in prison, with an average sentence of 24 months, according to the Washington Sentencing Guidelines Manual. Check your own state for guidelines and statistics.
Some other important resources I have used in building and fighting my own case:
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html
http://www.idtheftcenter.org/
And, most importantly, VOTE in November for candidates committed to tightening the weak laws on identity theft as well as for law enforcement officials committed to enforcing the existing laws already on our books.
