Identity Theft
Header image  
   
 
 

Home

 

 

Identity Theft

Free from the National District Attorneys Association

PDF lick here

AARP, Preventing Identity Theft Seminar- www.aarp.org/learntech/personal_finance/identity_theft_intro.html

Other Federal Resources

Bureau of Justice Statistics

Department of the Treasury

Department of Justice

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Social Security Administration

U.S. Postal Inspectors

Federal Laws

Federal Identity Theft Laws

Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act, as amended by Public Law 105-318, 112 Stat. 3007, October 30, 1998 (http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/itada/itadact.pdf)

Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act, as amended by Public Law 108-275, 118 Stat. 831 July 15, 2004 (http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/pdf/penalty_enhance_act.pdf)

Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, Public Law 108-159, 117 Stat. 1952, December 4, 2003 (PDF)

Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/fdcpact.htm)

Identity Theft Consumer Notification Act, 108th Congress, H.R. 818, Pending (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR00818:@@@L&summ2=m&)

Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2005, 109th Congress, H.R. 220, pending (http://www.govtrack.us/data/us/bills.text/109/h/h220.pdf)

Federal Credit Laws

Consumer Credit Protection Act, to locate information about identity theft within this law enter the phrase "identity theft" in the search box http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode15/usc_sup_01_15_10_41.html

Fair Credit Reporting Act: This version of the FCRA was made available by the FTC on December 1, 2005 (http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fcradoc.pdf)

Fair Credit Billing Act (http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fcb/fcb.pdf), see also (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fcb.htm)

Truth in Lending Act, Public Law 90-321 (Title I § 104), 82 Stat. 147, May 29, 1968 (http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/rules/6500-200.html)

Electronic Funds Transfer Act (http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode15/usc_sec_15_00001693----000-.html)

Federal False Identification Laws

False Identification Crime Control Act of 1982, Public Law 97-398, 96 Stat. 2009, December 31, 1982 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d097:HR06946:@@@L&summ2=m&)

Internet False Identification Act of 2000, Public Law 106-578, 114 Stat. 3075, December 28, 2000 (PDF)

Federal Privacy Laws

Privacy Act of 1971, Public Law 93-579, 88 Stat. 1896, December 31, 1974 (Link)

Drivers privacy Protection Act of 1994, Public Law103-322 (Title XXX), amended by 106-69, 108 Stat. 2099, September 13, 1994 (PDF)

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Public Law 104-191, 110 Stat. 1936, August 21, 1996 (PDF)

Gramm-Leach- Bliley Act of 1999 (also known as the Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999), Public Law 106-102, 113 Stat. 1338, November 12, 1999 (PDF)

Social Security Number Confidentiality Act of 2000, Public Law 106-433, 114 Stat. 1910, November 6, 2000 (PDF)

Links to House and Senate Committees with jurisdiction

House Energy and Commerce Committee, http://energycommerce.house.gov

House Judiciary Committee, http://judiciary.house.gov

Senate Commerce Committee, http://commerce.senate.gov/public

Senate Judiciary Committee, http://judiciary.senate.gov

State Resources

General

National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C): "NW3C is a congressionally-funded, non-profit corporation. Through a combination of training and critical support services, we equip state and local law enforcement agencies with skills and resources they need to tackle emerging economic and cyber crime problems."

State Law Compilations

· National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Identity Theft Information, lists state identity theft laws compiled by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, http://www.ncsl.org/programs/lis/privacy/idt-statutes.htm. Also offers links to articles and publications on Identity Theft (http://www.ncsl.org/programs/lis/privacy/idt-pubs.htm)

· National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) 2006 Enacted Identity Theft Legislation, http://www.ncsl.org/programs/lis/privacy/IDTheft2006.htm and 2006 Introduced Identity Theft Legislation

· Identity Theft Resource Center's list of Federal and State identity theft laws (http://www.idtheftcenter.org/statefedlaws.shtml)

· List of state criminal identity theft laws ( http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/law_laws_state_criminal.htm )

· List of state Credit Information Blocking laws ( http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/law_laws_credit_info.htm )

· List of state Fraud Alerts laws ( http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/law_laws_fraud.htm )

· List of state Social Security Numbers laws ( http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/law_laws_social.htm )

Other State Resources

· Briefing Paper on ID Theft: indicates the language various states use to categorize ID theft, which is especially useful when conducting state statutory research (http://www.ncsl.org/programs/lis/privacy/LEGIS1033.htm)

· Links to State Attorneys General websites (http://www.findlaw.com/11stategov/indexag.html) 

Specific resources listed alphabetically by state and in some instances, by city

· Alabama Office of Attorney General, General Guide for Victims of Identity Theft ( http://www.familyprotection.alabama.gov/identity.cfm )

· Alaska USA, Federal Credit Union, Identity Theft page ( http://www.alaskausa.org/help/privacyProtection.asp )

· Alaska Attorney General, Notice for Veterans About Identity Theft (http://www.law.state.ak.us/pdf/consumer/et-id-theft-notice.pdf)

· Arizona (Phoenix Police Department), Identity Theft, Learn to Protect Yourself (http://www.ci.phoenix.az.us/POLICE/idthef1.html)

· Arizona Identity Theft Statistics ( http://www.maricopacountyattorney.org/SpecPros/identity_arizona.asp )

· Arizona Crime Victims Support ( http://www.azVictims.com/identity/default.asp )

· Arizona Attorney General's STOP Identity Theft ( http://www.azag.gov/cybercrime/ID_Theft.html )

· Arkansas Office of the Attorney General, Protect Yourself From Identity Theft (http://www.ag.state.ar.us/consumer/ca32.htm)

· General Guide for Victims of Identity Theft, Office of the Attorney General, State of California ( http://ag.ca.gov/idtheft )

· California ID Theft Registry, Office of the Attorney General, State of California (http://caag.state.ca.us/idtheft/general.htm)

· California Office of privacy Protection ( http://www.privacy.ca.gov/coer/identitytheft.htm )

· California Department of Motor eVehicles, Fraud and Identity Theft Information (http://www.dm.ca.gov/consumer/fraud.htm)

· Colorado Motor Vehicle Investigations Unit ( http://www.reenue.state.co.us/m_dir/wrap.asp?incl=minwebpage )

· Colorado Attorney General Highlights Identity Theft Page ( http://www.agov.state.co.us/idtheft/IDTheft.cfm )

· Connecticut Attorney General's Office, Identity Theft Alert ( http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/iew.asp?a=2066&q=292644 )

· District of Columbia, Identity Theft page ( http://occ.dc.gov/occ/cwp/iew,a,1223,q,635085.asp )

· Delaware Attorney General, Avoiding Identity Theft ( http://www.state.de.us/attgen/publications/pdf/idtheft.pdf )

· Delaware Attorney General, Directions for Reporting Identity Theft and Completing the Identity Theft Victim Kit (http://www.state.de.us/attgen/fraud/consumerprotection/idtheft.shtml)

· Delaware Attorney General, Identity Theft (PDF)

· Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Maryland and Delaware (a nonprofit), Identity Theft page ( http://www.cccs-inc.org/cd/identity_theft.html )

· Florida Attorney General, Identity Theft page ( http://myfloridalegal.com/identitytheft )

· Florida Attorney General, Florida's Identity Theft Victim Kit ( http://myfloridalegal.com/idkitprintable.pdf )

· Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Identity Theft web site ( http://800helpfla.com/identity.html )

· Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Identify Theft page ( http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/Fc3/idtheft.html )

· Georgia Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs, Identity Theft - Instructions for Victims ( http://www.georgia.gov/00/article/0,2086,5426814_39039081_39480072,00.html )

· Georgia Consumer's Guide to Identity Theft ( http://www2.state.ga.us/GaOCA/broidtheft.htm )

· Georgia Stop Identity Theft Network, http://www.stopidentitytheft.org]

· Hawaii Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs, Identity Information (http://www.hawaii.gov/dcca/quicklinks/id_theft_info )

· Hawaii Identity Theft and Fraud Task Force (HIT Fraud) http://www.hawaii.gov/dcca/quicklinks/id_theft_info/

· Idaho Office of Attorney General, Identity Theft page (http://www2.state.id.us/ag/consumer/identitytheft.htm )

· Illinois Attorney General's Identity Theft Hotline (http://www.ag.state.il.us/consumers/hotline.html )

· Illinois Attorney General's Things You Should Know About... Identity Theft ( http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/idtheft.html )

· Indiana Office of Attorney General, Identity Theft Information ( http://www.indianaconsumer.com/consumer_guide/identity_theft.asp )

· Iowa Attorney General, Protect Yourself from "Identity Theft" (http://www.state.ia.us/government/ag/consumer/adisories/ident_theft.html)

· Iowa Department of Transportation Identity Theft page (http://www.dot.state.ia.us/md/ome/theft.htm )

· Iowa Attorney General's brochure on How to Avid Identity Theft (http://www.state.ia.us/government/ag/idaoid.htm )

· Kansas Attorney General's Identity Theft publication (http://www.ksag.org/Publications/ConsumerCorner/ID/index.htm )

· Kansas Department of Insurance, information about Identity Theft Insurance (http://www.ksinsurance.org/consumers/id_theft.htm )

· Kansas Bureau of Investigation's How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft brochure ( http://www.kansas.gov/kbi/PDF/brochures/Identity%20Theft.pdf )

· Kentucky Attorney General Identity Theft page (http://ag.ky.gov/consumer/identity/default.htm)

· Kentucky Attorney General Stumbo Supports Identity Theft Legislation (Link)

· Louisiana Department of Justice, Identity Theft (http://www.ag.state.la.us/publications/identitytheft.htm)

· Louisiana Attorney General Consumer Alerts, Fight Identity Theft ( http://www.ag.state.la.us/calerts/alert0004.aspx )

· Maine, Department of the Secretary of State, Identity Fraud Information ( http://www.maine.gov/sos/IDFraud.htm )

· Maine Attorney General, Identity Theft page ( http://www.maine.gov/ag/index.php?r=protection&s=identitytheft&t )

· Maine, Credit Reports and Identity Theft publication ( http://www.maine.gov/pfr/bkg/creditreportbrochure.htm )

· Maryland Attorney General, Identity Theft: What to Do if It Happens to You (http://www.oag.state.md.us/consumer/idtheft.htm)

· Consumer Credit Counseling Service Identity Theft page ( http://www.cccs-inc.org/cd/identity_theft.html )

· Massachusetts Attorney General Consumer http://www.agov.state.ma.us/sp.cfm?pageid=1610

· Massachusetts Attorney General Consumer Alert, Reilly Announces Comprehensive Approach to Identity Theft ( http://www.agov.state.ma.us/sp.cfm?pageid=986&id=1374 )

· Massachusetts Attorney General, Identity Fraud: http://www.agov.state.ma.us/filelibrary/ident4.pdf )

· Michigan Department of Attorney General, Identity Theft http://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,1607,7-164--80479--,00.html )

· Michigan Department of Attorney General, Free Annual Credit Reports-What Consumers Should Know ( http://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,1607,7-164-20942-111010--,00.html )

· Crime Prevention Association of Michigan (CPAM), Identity Theft page ( http://www.preventcrime.net/identity_theft.htm )

· Minnesota Office of the Attorney Genera(http://www.ag.state.mn.us/consumer/privacy/GuardingYprivacy/Default.htm)

· Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Identity Theft page ( http://www.dps.state.mn.us/DS/DrierLicense/DL%20Info/idTheft.htm )

· Mississippi Office of the Attorney General ( http://www.agov.state.ms.us/diisions/consumer/idtheftbook.pdf )

· Mississippi Office of the Attorney General, Identification Theft pamphlet ( http://www.agov.state.ms.us/diisions/consumer/idpamphlet.pdf )

· Mississippi Insurance Department, A Rise in Identity Theft Spurs New Type of Insurance (http://www.doi.state.ms.us/consumer/alerts/alert021606.htm)

· Missouri Attorney General, Identity Theft page ( http://www.agov.mo.gov/publications/idtheft.htm )

· Montana Department of Justice and Attorney General, Identity Theft page ( http://doj.state.mt.us/consumer/consumer/identitytheft.asp)

· Nebraska Attorney General, to access the Identity Theft page (http://www.agov.state.ne.us)

· Nebraska Attorney General and Department of Justice brochure (http://www.agov.state.ne.us/content/Id_Theft_p1.pdf)

· Nevada Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, (http://ag.state.n.us/menu/passport/introduction.htm)

· Nevada Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, (http://ag.state.n.us/menu/passport/protect_yourself.htm)

· New Hampshire Department of Justice, Identity Theft (http://www.nh.gov/nhdoj/consumer/sourcebook/identity.html)

· New Jersey Official State Website, Identity Theft page (http://www.nj.gov/identitytheft)

· New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Identity Theft (http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/idtheft.htm)

· New Jersey State Police, Identity Theft Victim's Reference Guide (http://www.state.nj.us/njsp/tech/identity.html)

· New Mexico Attorney General, Identity Theft page (http://www.agov.state.nm.us/know/idtheft/idtheft.htm)

· New York State Office of the State Attorney Genera(http://www.oag.state.ny.us/consumer/tips/identity_theft.html)

· New York State Office of the State Attorney General (http://www.oag.state.ny.us/consumer/tips/identity_theft.html)

· North Carolina Department of Justice / Attorney General, Tips for Veterans and Military Personnel Who May Be at Risk (PDF)

· North Carolina Department of Justice (http://www.ncdoj.com/consumerprotection/cp_idtheft.jsp)

· North Carolina, Department of Transportation DM, Identity Theft page (http://www.ncdot.org/dm/other_serices/licensetheft/identityTheft.html)

· North Dakota Attorney General, Identity Theft page (http://www.ag.state.nd.us/cpat/idtheft/idtheft.htm)

· North Dakota Attorney General, Identity Theft Fraud Alert (http://www.ag.nd.gov/DataTheftFraudAlertInfo.pdf)

· North Dakota Attorney General, Identity Theft brochure (http://www.ag.state.nd.us/Brochures/IdentityTheft.pdf)

· North Dakota Attorney General, Column on Consumer Issues, "Phishing" Scam (http://www.ag.state.nd.us/TGTBT/2006/03-08-06.pdf)

· North Dakota Attorney General, Defending Your privacy (http://www.ag.state.nd.us/CPAT/PDFFiles/privacy2.PDF)

· North Dakota Attorney General, Is Your Private Life Really Private (http://www.ag.state.nd.us/CPAT/PDFFiles/privacy1.PDF)

· North Dakota Attorney General, What is Identity Theft (http://www.ag.state.nd.us/CPAT/PDFFiles/IdentityTheft1.PDF)

· North Dakota Attorney General, Avoiding Identity Theft (http://www.ag.state.nd.us/CPAT/PDFFiles/IdentityTheft2.PDF)

· North Dakota Attorney General, Stolen Identity, Now What (http://www.ag.state.nd.us/CPAT/PDFFiles/STOLENIDENTITY.pdf)

· North Dakota Attorney General, Social Security Numbers (http://www.ag.state.nd.us/CPAT/PDFFiles/socialsecuritynumbers.pdf)

· Ohio Attorney General, Identity Theft Verification Passport (Link), this page also contains links to publications and teaching materials about identity theft

· Ohio Consumers, includes articles, links and a slide show about identity theft (http://www.ohioconsumers.org)

· Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), Identity Theft Passport (http://www.osbi.state.ok.us/IdentityTheft.html)

· Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), Identity Theft Passport Request, (Link)

· Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), Identity Theft Preventative Actions (PDF)

· University of Oklahoma Police Department, Identity Theft page http://www.ou.edu/oupd/idtheft.htm

· Oregon Congresswoman Darlene Hooley, Leading the Way to Prevent Identity Theft (Link)

· District of Oregon, Senator Hoar's Identity Theft: The Crime of the New Millennium (http://www.cybercrime.gov/usamarch2001_3.htm)

· Oregon DMV, Identity Theft page (http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DM/drierid/idtheft.shtml)

· Pennsylvania Attorney General, Protecting Your Personal Information (http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/consumers.aspx?id=298)

· Pennsylvania Attorney General, Protecting Yourself From Identity Theft (http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/consumers.aspx?id=226)

· Pennsylvania Attorney General, How to Avoid Identity Theft (PDF)

· Pennsylvania Attorney General, Identity Theft (http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/consumers.aspx?id=289)

· Rhode Island Department of Attorney General, Identity Theft - What if I am a Victim of Identity Theft? (Link) to view this text scroll down to the bottom of the web page

· Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Regulations for Identity Theft Protection (http://www.dlt.ri.gov/pdf/IdentityTheftRules41006.pdf)

· South Carolina Consumer Affairs, Identity Theft Flyer (http://www.scconsumer.gov/publications/flyers/id_theft.pdf)

· University of South Carolina, Identity Theft website (http://www.sc.edu/identity)

· South Dakota Attorney General, Identity Theft page, (http://www.state.sd.us/attorney/office/divisions/consumer/idtheft/default.asp)

· Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, Identity Theft Tips may be available upon request (http://state.tn.us/consumer)

· Texas Attorney General, Identity Theft page (http://www.oag.state.tx.us/consumer/idtheft.shtml)

· Texas Department of Public Safety, (http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/director_staff/public_information/pr040902.htm)

· Texas, Fort Worth Police Department, Identity Theft page (http://www.fortworthpd.com/identitytheft.htm)

· Utah, Identity Theft Reporting Information System (http://www.idtheft.utah.gov/pn)

· Utah Attorney General, General Consumer Assistance, Identity Fraud, http://attygen.state.ut.us/CA/IdFraudMain.htm

· Vermont Attorney General, Identity Theft page (http://www.atg.state.t.us/display.php?smod=198)

· Virginia Attorney General, Identity Theft page (http://www.oag.state.a.us/FAQs/FAQ_IDTheft.html)

· Virginia Department for the Aging, Identity Theft page (http://www.aging.state.a.us/identitytheft.htm)

· Washington Attorney General, Identity Theft page (http://www.atg.wa.gov/consumer/idprivacy/idtheft_index.shtml)

· West Virginia Attorney General, Identity Theft page (http://www.wagov.us/frameset.html)

· Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection, Office of privacy Protection (http://www.privacy.wi.gov)

· Wisconsin State Law Library, Identity Theft page (http://wsll.state.wi.us/topic/consumer/idtheft.html)

· Wyoming Department of Transportation, Stolen License / Identity Theft page (http://www.dot.state.wy.us/Default.jsp?sCode=draa)

Recent GAO Reports

Identity Theft: Some Outreach Efforts to Promote Awareness of New Consumer Rights Are Under Way GAO-05-710 June 30, 2005

Personal Information: Key Federal Privacy Laws Do Not Require Information Resellers to Safeguard All Sensitive Data GAO-06-674 June 26, 2006

Veterans Affairs: Leadership Needed to Address Information Security Weaknesses and Privacy Issues GAO-06-866T June 14, 2006

Privacy: Preventing and Responding to Improper Disclosures of Personal Information GAO-06-833T June 8, 2006

Social Security Numbers: More Could be Done to Protect SSNs GAO-06-586T March 30, 2006

Social Security Numbers: Federal and State Laws Restrict Use of SSNs, Yet Gaps Remain GAO-05-1016T September 15, 2005

Information Security: Emerging Cybersecurity Issues Threaten Federal Information Systems GAO-05-231 May 13, 2005

Credit Reporting Literacy: Consumers Understood the Basics but Could Benefit from Targeted Educational Efforts GAO-05-223 March 16, 2005

Social Security Numbers: Governments Could Do More to Reduce Display in Public Records and on Identity Cards GAO-05-59 November 9, 2004

Selected CRS Reports Available on the web

RS22460 - June 22, 2006
Theft of Veterans' Personal Information, and Department of Veterans Affairs Information Technology Reorganization: Issues for Congress

RL33287 - February 28, 2006
Data Security: Protecting the Privacy of Phone Records

RL33231 - January 11, 2006
The Internal Revenue Service's Use of Private Debt Collection Agencies: Current Status and Issues for Congress

RL33199 - December 16, 2005
Personal Data Security Breaches: Context and Incident Summaries

RS22082 - March 16, 2005
Identity Theft: The Internet Connection

RS21083 - September 12, 2003
Identity Theft and the Fair Credit Reporting Act: An Analysis of TRW v. Andrews and Current Legislation

RL31919 - September 12, 2003
Remedies Available to Victims of Identity Theft

RL31752 - February 21, 2003
Identity Theft: An Overview of Proposed Legislation in the 107th Congress

Selected Consumer and Industry Resources on ID Theft

Better Business Bureau

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse - Identity Theft Resources

Selected Books on ID Theft

Identity Theft: A Legal Research Guide, by Reba A. Best, 2004.

Your Evil Twin: Behind the Identity Theft Epidemic, by Bob Sullivan, 2004.

The Digital Person: Technology and Privacy in the Information Age (Ex Machina: Law, Technology, and Society) by Daniel J. Solove, 2004.

Selected News Articles on ID Theft

Ponemon Institute Releases National Survey on Confidential Data at Risk, August 15, 2006

Industry, Government Fret Over Tactics for Fighting Data Theft, by Marcia Coyle, The National Law Journal, August 10, 2006.

Risky Business? How Multinationals' Outsourcing Involving Customer Data Can Lead to Identity Theft and Other Fraud, by Anita Ramasastry, July 10, 2006

Identity Thief Finds Easy Money Hard to Resist, July 2006

PC With Personal Data on More than 500,000 NY Workers Missing, July 24, 2006

Gartner Says Rash of Personal Data Thefts Shows Social Security Numbers Can No Longer Be Sole Proof of Identity for Enterprises, June 5, 2006.

Experts Offer Advice to Prevent ID Theft, AP, May 23, 2006

Preventing Identity Theft and Data Security Breaches: The Problem With Regulation, by Clyde Wayne Crews and Brooke Oberwetter, Competitive Enterprise Institute, May 9, 2006 (24 pages, PDF)

Death is No Defense Against ID Theft, December 2005

2005 Worst Year for Breaches of Computer Security, December 2005

Grand Theft Identity - Be careful, we've been told, or you may become a fraud victim. But now it seems that corporations are failing to protect our secrets. How bad is the problem, and how can we fix it.
Newsweek, July 4, 2005.

Identity Theft Resources for Police, April 2005

ID Theft Worst Fraud in Record Year, January 2003 (http://tinyurl.com/58u7)

How to Foil Data Thieves, Hackers, January 2003 (http://www.wired.com/news/infostructure/0,1377,57302,00.html)

9-Digit 'Social' Overused as ID, January 2003 (http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,57395,00.html)

Cops Bust Massie ID Theft Ring, November 2002 (http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,56567,00.html)

Site Clues Consumers into Identity Theft, June 2002 (http://tinyurl.com/58tc)

Identity Theft: Fact and Fiction, September 2002 (http://news.com.com/2010-1075-958328.html)

Identity Heist!, February 2002 (http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0219/p17s02-wmcn.html)

Selected Law Review and Law Journal Articles on ID Theft

· Solove, Daniel J. and Hoofnagle, Chris Jay, A Model Regime of Privacy Protection (Version 3.0). Illinois Law Review, Vol. 2006, p. 357, 2006.

Matwyshyn, Andrea M., "Technoconsen(t)sus" (May 2006). Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=904075

Victor M. DiBattista; Identity Theft: Is Your Security Blanket Tucked In?; 123 Banking Law Journal 316, Number 4; April 2006

Anderson, Keith B., Identity Theft: Does the Risk Vary With Demographics? (August 2005). Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Economics Working Paper No. 279 Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=795427

Cheney, Julia S., Identity Theft: Do Definitions Still Matter? (August 2005). FRB of Philadelphia Payment Cards Center Discussion Paper Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=815684

Bermann, Sol, Privacy and Access to Public Records in the Digital Age (April 2006). Ohio State Public Law Working Paper No. 62 Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=899621

· Jennifer Lynch; Identity Theft in Cyberspace: Crime Control Methods and Their Effectiveness in Combating Phishing Attacks; 20 Berkeley Technology Law Journal 259; 2005

· Daivd E. Libman; Identity Theft: Who Cares about Sticks and Stones?; 47 Orange County Lawyer 41; April 2005

Hoofnagle, Chris Jay, Putting Identity Theft on Ice: Freezing Credit Reports to Prevent Lending to Impostors. Stanford University Press, 2005 Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=650162

· Identity Theft: Your good Name gone Bad; 68 Texas Bar Journal 95; January 2005

· Daivd Narkiewicz; Identity Theft: A Rapidly Growing Technology Problem; 26 Pennsylvania Lawyer 58; May/June 2004

· Catherine Pastrikos; Identity Theft Statutes: Which Will Protect Americans the Most?; 67 Albany Law Review 1137; 2004

· Erin Leigh Sylester; Identity Theft: Are the Elderly Targeted?; 3 Connecticut Public Interest Law Journal 371; Spring 2004

· Holly K. Towle; Identity Theft: Myths, Methods, and New Law; 30 Rutgers Computer and Technology Law Journal 237; 2004

· Erin Suzanne Dais; A World Wide Problem on the World Wide Web: International Responses to Transnational Identity Theft via the Internet; 12 Washington University Journal of Law and Policy 201; 2003

· Peter C. Alexander; Identity Theft and Bankruptcy Expungement; 77 American Bankruptcy Institute Journal 409; Fall 2003

· Chris B. Petrie; Identity (Theft) Crisis!; 26 Wyoming Lawyer 22; October 2003

· Stephen F. Miller; Someone Out There Is Using Your Name: A Basic Primer on Federal Identity Theft Law; 50 Federal Lawyer 11; January 2003

· Erin M. Shoudt; Identity Theft: Victims "Cry Out" for Reform; 52 American University Law Review; October 2002

· Sean B. Hoar; Identity Theft: The Crime of the New Millennium; 80 Oregon Law Review 1423; Winter 2001

· Dae Maxfield; Invasion of the I.D. Snatchers: Fighting Identity Theft; 13 South Carolina Lawyer 18; September/October 2001

 

Additional bibliographic information about identity theft· Identity Theft: Outline of Federal Statutes and Bibliography of Select Resources by Sara R. Paul, published September 18, 2005

· Annotated Bibliography of Resources on Identity Theft by Sabrina I. Pacifici, published April 7, 2003

ID theft resources from beSpacific, the current awareness blog on law and technology news, updated daily, with links to primary federal, state and local resources and reliable corporate, academic, public interest and expert source

  • Government

    United States:

    Canada:

     

  • What Are Identity Theft and Identity Fraud?

    "But he that filches from me my good name/Robs me of that which not enriches him/And makes me poor indeed." - Shakespeare, Othello, act iii. Sc. 3.

    The short answer is that identity theft is a crime. Identity theft and identity fraud are terms used to refer to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain. These Web pages are intended to explain why you need to take precautions to protect yourself from identity theft. Unlike your fingerprints, which are unique to you and cannot be given to someone else for their use, your personal data ­ especially your Social Security number, your bank account or credit card number, your telephone calling card number, and other valuable identifying data ­ can be used, if they fall into the wrong hands, to personally profit at your expense. In the United States and Canada, for example, many people have reported that unauthorized persons have taken funds out of their bank or financial accounts, or, in the worst cases, taken over their identities altogether, running up vast debts and committing crimes while using the victims's names. In many cases, a victim's losses may include not only out-of-pocket financial losses, but substantial additional financial costs associated with trying to restore his reputation in the community and correcting erroneous information for which the criminal is responsible.

    In one notorious case of identity theft, the criminal, a convicted felon, not only incurred more than $100,000 of credit card debt, obtained a federal home loan, and bought homes, motorcycles, and handguns in the victim's name, but called his victim to taunt him -- saying that he could continue to pose as the victim for as long as he wanted because identity theft was not a federal crime at that time -- before filing for bankruptcy, also in the victim's name. While the victim and his wife spent more than four years and more than $15,000 of their own money to restore their credit and reputation, the criminal served a brief sentence for making a false statement to procure a firearm, but made no restitution to his victim for any of the harm he had caused. This case, and others like it, prompted Congress in 1998 to create a new federal offense of identity theft.


    What Are The Most Common Ways To Commit Identity Theft Or Fraud?

    -top-

    Many people do not realize how easily criminals can obtain our personal data without having to break into our homes. In public places, for example, criminals may engage in "shoulder surfing" ­ watching you from a nearby location as you punch in your telephone calling card number or credit card number ­ or listen in on your conversation if you give your credit-card number over the telephone to a hotel or rental car company.

    Even the area near your home or office may not be secure. Some criminals engage in "dumpster diving" ­ going through your garbage cans or a communal dumpster or trash bin -- to obtain copies of your checks, credit card or bank statements, or other records that typically bear your name, address, and even your telephone number. These types of records make it easier for criminals to get control over accounts in your name and assume your identity.

    If you receive applications for "preapproved" credit cards in the mail, but discard them without tearing up the enclosed materials, criminals may retrieve them and try to activate the cards for their use without your knowledge. (Some credit card companies, when sending credit cards, have adopted security measures that allow a card recipient to activate the card only from his or her home telephone number but this is not yet a universal practice.) Also, if your mail is delivered to a place where others have ready access to it, criminals may simply intercept and redirect your mail to another location.

    In recent years, the Internet has become an appealing place for criminals to obtain identifying data, such as passwords or even banking information. In their haste to explore the exciting features of the Internet, many people respond to "spam" ­ unsolicited E-mail ­ that promises them some benefit but requests identifying data, without realizing that in many cases, the requester has no intention of keeping his promise. In some cases, criminals reportedly have used computer technology to obtain large amounts of personal data.

    With enough identifying information about an individual, a criminal can take over that individual's identity to conduct a wide range of crimes: for example, false applications for loans and credit cards, fraudulent withdrawals from bank accounts, fraudulent use of telephone calling cards, or obtaining other goods or privileges which the criminal might be denied if he were to use his real name. If the criminal takes steps to ensure that bills for the falsely obtained credit cards, or bank statements showing the unauthorized withdrawals, are sent to an address other than the victim's, the victim may not become aware of what is happing until the criminal has already inflicted substantial damage on the victim's assets, credit, and reputation.

    What's The Department Of Justice Doing About Identity Theft And Fraud?

    -top-

    The Department of Justice prosecutes cases of identity theft and fraud under a variety of federal statutes. In the fall of 1998, for example, Congress passed the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act . This legislation created a new offense of identity theft, which prohibits knowingly transfer[ring] or us[ing], without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person with the intent to commit, or to aid or abet, any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of Federal law, or that constitutes a felony under any applicable State or local law.

    18 U.S.C. § 1028(a)(7). This offense, in most circumstances, carries a maximum term of 15 years' imprisonment, a fine, and criminal forfeiture of any personal property used or intended to be used to commit the offense.

    Schemes to commit identity theft or fraud may also involve violations of other statutes such as identification fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1028), credit card fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1029), computer fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1030), mail fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1341), wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343), or financial institution fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1344). Each of these federal offenses are felonies that carry substantial penalties ­ in some cases, as high as 30 years' imprisonment, fines, and criminal forfeiture.

    Federal prosecutors work with federal investigative agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and the United States Postal Inspection Service to prosecute identity theft and fraud cases.

    Here are some examples of recent cases:

    Central District of California. A woman pleaded guilty to federal charges of using a stolen Social Security number to obtain thousands of dollars in credit and then filing for bankruptcy in the name of her victim. More recently, a man was indicted, pleaded guilty to federal charges and was sentenced to 27 months' imprisonment for obtaining private bank account information about an insurance company's policyholders and using that information to deposit $764,000 in counterfeit checks into a bank account he established.

    Central District of California.  Two of three defendants have pleaded guilty to identity theft, bank fraud,  and related charges for their roles in a scheme to open bank accounts with both real and fake identification documents, deposit U.S. Treasury checks that were stolen from the mail, and withdraw funds from those accounts.

    Middle District of Florida.  A defendant has been indicted on bank fraud charges for obtaining names, addresses, and Social Security numbers from a Web site and using those data to apply for a series of car loans over the Internet.

    Southern District of Florida. A woman was indicted and pleaded guilty to federal charges involving her obtaining a fraudulent driver's license in the name of the victim, using the license to withdraw more than $13,000 from the victim's bank account, and obtaining five department store credit cards in the victim's name and charging approximately $4,000 on those cards.

    District of Kansas.  A defendant pleaded guilty to conspiracy, odometer fraud, and mail fraud for operating an odometer "rollback" scheme on used cars.  The defendant used false and assumed identities, including the identities of deceased persons, to obtain false identification documents and fraudulent car titles.

    What Can I Do About Identity Theft And Fraud?

    -top-

    To victims of identity theft and fraud, the task of correcting incorrect information about their financial or personal status, and trying to restore their good names and reputations, may seem as daunting as trying to solve a puzzle in which some of the pieces are missing and other pieces no longer fit as they once did. Unfortunately, the damage that criminals do in stealing another person's identity and using it to commit fraud often takes far longer to undo than it took the criminal to commit the crimes.

    What Should I Do To Avoid Becoming A Victim Of Identity Theft?

    To reduce or minimize the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft or fraud, there are some basic steps you can take. For starters, just remember the word "SCAM":

    S     Be stingy about giving out your personal information to others unless you have a reason to trust them, regardless of where you are:

    At Home.

    1. Start by adopting a "need to know" approach to your personal data. Your credit card company may need to know your mother's maiden name, so that it can verify your identity when you call to inquire about your account. A person who calls you and says he's from your bank, however, doesn't need to know that information if it's already on file with your bank; the only purpose of such a call is to acquire that information for that person's personal benefit. Also, the more information that you have printed on your personal bank checks -- such as your Social Security number or home telephone number -- the more personal data you are routinely handing out to people who may not need that information.
    2. If someone you don't know calls you on the telephone and offers you the chance to receive a "major" credit card, a prize, or other valuable item, but asks you for personal data -- such as your Social Security number, credit card number or expiration date, or mother's maiden name -- ask them to send you a written application form.
    3. If they won't do it, tell them you're not interested and hang up.
    4. If they will, review the application carefully when you receive it and make sure it's going to a company or financial institution that's well-known and reputable. The Better Business Bureau can give you information about businesses that have been the subject of complaints.

    On Travel.

    1. If you're traveling, have your mail held at your local post office, or ask someone you know well and trust ­ another family member, a friend, or a neighbor ­ to collect and hold your mail while you're away.
    2. If you have to telephone someone while you're traveling, and need to pass on personal financial information to the person you're calling, don't do it at an open telephone booth where passersby can listen in on what you're saying; use a telephone booth where you can close the door, or wait until you're at a less public location to call.
    C    Check your financial information regularly, and look for what should be there and what shouldn't:

    -top-

    What Should Be There.

    1. If you have bank or credit card accounts, you should be receiving monthly statements that list transactions for the most recent month or reporting period.
    2. If you're not receiving monthly statements for the accounts you know you have, call the financial institution or credit card company immediately and ask about it.
    3. If you're told that your statements are being mailed to another address that you haven't authorized, tell the financial institution or credit card representative immediately that you did not authorize the change of address and that someone may be improperly using your accounts. In that situation, you should also ask for copies of all statements and debit or charge transactions that have occurred since the last statement you received. Obtaining those copies will help you to work with the financial institution or credit card company in determining whether some or all of those debit or charge transactions were fraudulent.

    What Shouldn't Be There.

    1. If someone has gotten your financial data and made unauthorized debits or charges against your financial accounts, checking your monthly statements carefully may be the quickest way for you to find out. Too many of us give those statements, or the enclosed checks or credit transactions, only a quick glance, and don't review them closely to make sure there are no unauthorized withdrawals or charges.
    2. If someone has managed to get access to your mail or other personal data, and opened any credit cards in your name or taken any funds from your bank account, contact your financial institution or credit card company immediately to report those transactions and to request further action.


    A    Ask periodically for a copy of your credit report.

    Your credit report should list all bank and financial accounts under your name, and will provide other indications of whether someone has wrongfully opened or used any accounts in your name.

    M    Maintain careful records of your banking and financial accounts.

    Even though financial institutions are required to maintain copies of your checks, debit transactions, and similar transactions for five years, you should retain your monthly statements and checks for at least one year, if not more. If you need to dispute a particular check or transaction ­ especially if they purport to bear your signatures ­ your original records will be more immediately accessible and useful to the institutions that you have contacted.

    Even if you take all of these steps, however, it's still possible that you can become a victim of identity theft. Records containing your personal data -- credit-card receipts or car-rental agreements, for example -- may be found by or shared with someone who decides to use your data for fraudulent purposes.

    What Should I Do If I've Become A Victim Of Identity Theft?

    -top-

    If you think you've become a victim of identity theft or fraud, act immediately to minimize the damage to your personal funds and financial accounts, as well as your reputation. Here's a list -- based in part on a checklist prepared by the California Public Interest Research Group (CalPIRG) and the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse -- of some actions that you should take right away:

    1. Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report the situation, whether Online,
    2. By telephone toll-free at 1-877-ID THEFT (877-438-4338) or TDD at 202-326-2502, or
    3. By mail to Consumer Response Center, FTC, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580.
    Under the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act , the Federal Trade Commission is responsible for receiving and processing complaints from people who believe they may be victims of identity theft, providing informational materials to those people, and referring those complaints to appropriate entities, including the major credit reporting agencies and law enforcement agencies. For further information, please check the FTC's identity theft Web pages . You can also call your local office of the FBI or the U.S. Secret Service to report crimes relating to identity theft and fraud.

    You may also need to contact other agencies for other types of identity theft:

    1. Your local office of the Postal Inspection Service if you suspect that an identity thief has submitted a change-of-address form with the Post Office to redirect your mail, or has used the mail to commit frauds involving your identity;
    2. The Social Security Administration if you suspect that your Social Security number is being fraudulently used (call 800-269-0271 to report the fraud);
    3. The Internal Revenue Service if you suspect the improper use of identification information in connection with tax violations (call 1-800-829-0433 to report the violations).
    Call the fraud units of the three principal credit reporting companies:

    Equifax:

    1. To report fraud, call (800) 525-6285 or write to P.O. Box 740250, Atlanta, GA 30374-0250.
    2. To order a copy of your credit report ($8 in most states), write to P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241, or call (800) 685-1111.
    3. To dispute information in your report, call the phone number provided on your credit report.
    4. To opt out of pre-approved offers of credit, call (888) 567-8688 or write to Equifax Options, P.O. Box 740123, Atlanta GA 30374-0123.

    Experian (formerly TRW)

    -top-

    1. To report fraud, call (888) EXPERIAN or (888) 397-3742, fax to (800) 301-7196, or write to P.O. Box 1017, Allen, TX 75013.
    2. To order a copy of your credit report ($8 in most states): P.O. Box 2104, Allen TX 75013, or call (888) EXPERIAN.
    3. To dispute information in your report, call the phone number provided on your credit report.
    4. To opt out of pre-approved offers of credit and marketing lists, call (800) 353-0809 or (888) 5OPTOUT or write to P.O. Box 919, Allen, TX 75013.

    Trans Union

    1. To report fraud, call (800) 680-7289 or write to P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634.
    2. To order a copy of your credit report ($8 in most states), write to P.O. Box 390, Springfield, PA 19064 or call: (800) 888-4213.
    3. To dispute information in your report, call the phone number provided on your credit report.
    4. To opt out of pre-approved offers of credit and marketing lists, call (800) 680-7293 or (888) 5OPTOUT or write to P.O Box 97328, Jackson, MS 39238.

    Contact all creditors with whom your name or identifying data have been fraudulently used. For example, you may need to contact your long-distance telephone company if your long-distance calling card has been stolen or you find fraudulent charges on your bill.

    Contact all financial institutions where you have accounts that an identity thief has taken over or that have been created in your name but without your knowledge. You may need to cancel those accounts, place stop-payment orders on any outstanding checks that may not have cleared, and change your Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card, account, and Personal Identification Number (PIN).

    Contact the major check verification companies (listed in the CalPIRG-Privacy Rights Clearinghouse checklist) if you have had checks stolen or bank accounts set up by an identity thief. In particular, if you know that a particular merchant has received a check stolen from you, contact the verification company that the merchant uses:

    1. CheckRite -- (800) 766-2748
    2. ChexSystems -- (800) 428-9623 (closed checking accounts)
    3. CrossCheck -- (800) 552-1900
    4. Equifax -- (800) 437-5120
    5. National Processing Co. (NPC) -- (800) 526-5380
    6. SCAN -- (800) 262-7771
    7. TeleCheck -- (800) 710-9898

    Where Can I Find Out More About Identity Theft And Fraud?

    -top-

    A number of government and private organizations have information about various aspects of identity theft and fraud: how it can occur, what you can do about it, and how to guard your privacy. To help you learn more about the problem and its solutions, we've attached a list of Web sites that you might find interesting and informative on identity theft and related topics.

    [Note: All Web sites to which these pages cross-link are included as a service for the reader. Cross-links to non-governmental sites do not constitute an endorsement or approval of their content, or of the organizations responsible for that content, by the Department of Justice.]

    • Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number

      SSA Publication No. 05-10064, October 2007, ICN 463270

       

      Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America. A dishonest person who has your Social Security number can use it to get other personal information about you. Identity thieves can use your number and your good credit to apply for more credit in your name. Then, they use the credit cards and do not pay the bills. You may not find out that someone is using your number until you are turned down for credit or you begin to get calls from unknown creditors demanding payment for items you never bought.

      Someone illegally using your Social Security number and assuming your identity can cause a lot of problems.

      		  

       

      Your number is confidential

      The Social Security Administration protects your Social Security number and keeps your records confidential. We do not give your number to anyone, except when authorized by law. You should be careful about sharing your number, even when you are asked for it. You should ask why your number is needed, how it will be used and what will happen if you refuse. The answers to these questions can help you decide if you want to give out your Social Security number.

       

      		  

       

      How might someone steal your number?

      Identity thieves get your personal information by:

      • Stealing wallets, purses and your mail (bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, new checks and tax information);
      • Stealing personal information you provide to an unsecured site on the Internet, from business or personnel records at work and personal information in your home;
      • Rummaging through your trash, the trash of businesses and public trash dumps for personal data;
      • Posing by phone or E-mail as someone who legitimately needs information about you, such as employers or landlords; or

      Buying personal information from “inside” sources. For example, an identity thief may pay a store employee for information about you that appears on an application for goods, services or credit.

       

      		  

       

      Be careful with your Social Security card and number

      Show your card to your employer when you start a job so your records are correct. Provide your Social Security number to your financial institution(s) for tax reporting purposes. Keep your card and any other document that shows your Social Security number on it in a safe place. DO NOT routinely carry your card or other documents that display your number.

       

      		  
       

      What if you think someone is using your number?

      Sometimes more than one person uses the same Social Security number, either on purpose or by accident. If you suspect that someone else is using your number for work purposes, you should contact us to report the problem. We will review your earnings with you to ensure that our records are correct.

      You also may review earnings posted to your record on your Social Security Statement (Form SSA-7005). The Statement is mailed automatically each year to workers age 25 and older. You also can get a Statement at any time by requesting one online or by calling our 800 number.

       

      		  

       

      What if an identity thief is creating credit problems for you?

      If someone has misused your Social Security number or other personal information to create credit or other problems for you, Social Security cannot resolve these problems. You should contact the Federal Trade Commission for help.

      You can contact the Federal Trade Commission by:

       

      		  

       

      Should you get a new Social Security number?

      If you have done all you can to fix the problems resulting from misuse of your Social Security number and someone still is using your number, we may assign you a new number.

      You cannot get a new Social Security number:

      • To avoid the consequences of filing for bankruptcy;
      • If you intend to avoid the law or your legal responsibility; or
      • If your Social Security card is lost or stolen, but there is no evidence that someone is using your number.

      If you decide to apply for a new number, you will need to prove your age, U.S. citizenship or lawful immigration status and identity. For more information, ask for Your Social Security Number And Card (Publication Number 05-10002).

      You also will need to provide evidence that you still are being disadvantaged by the misuse.

      Keep in mind that a new number probably will not solve all your problems. This is because other governmental agencies (such as the Internal Revenue Service and state motor vehicle agencies) and private businesses (such as banks and credit reporting companies) likely will have records under your old number. Also, because credit reporting companies use the number, along with other personal information, to identify your credit record, using a new number will not guarantee you a fresh start. This is especially true if your other personal information, such as your name and address, remains the same.

      If you receive a new Social Security number, you will not be able use the old number anymore.

      For some victims of identity theft, a new number actually creates new problems. If the old credit information is not associated with the new number, the absence of any credit history under the new number may make it more difficult for you to get credit.

      Identity Theft Web Sites

      Federal Trade Commission
      The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) works to ensure that the nation’s markets are vigorous, efficient and free of restrictions that harm consumers. The FTC enforces federal consumer protection laws that prevent fraud, deception and unfair business practices. Whether combating telemarketing fraud, Internet scams or price-fixing schemes, the FTC’s primary mission is to protect consumers.

      Federal Trade Commission: Identity Theft
      Provides information to consumers about reporting identity theft.

      Federal Trade Commission: Identity Theft Investigations
      Guidelines for law enforcement personnel conducting identity theft investigations.

      Fight Identity Theft
      Advice and guidance for consumers to protect against identity theft.

      Internet Crime Complaint Center
      The Internet Complaint Center (IC3) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). IC3’s mission is to address fraud committed over the Internet. For victims of Internet fraud, IC3 provides a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of a suspected criminal or civil violation. For law enforcement and regulatory agencies at all levels, IC3 offers a central repository for complaints related to Internet fraud, works to quantify fraud patterns, and provides timely statistical data of current fraud trends.

      National Consumer Law Center
      The National Consumer Law Center is America’s consumer law expert, helping consumers, their advocates, and public policy makers to use powerful consumer laws to build financial security and assure marketplace justice for vulnerable individuals and families.

      AARP
      Provides information about identity theft and how consumers can protect themselves from becoming victims.

      AnnualCreditReport.com
      A centralized service for consumers to request annual credit reports that was created by the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act consumers can request and obtain a free credit report once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies. AnnualCreditReport.com provides consumers with the secure means to do so.

      Anti-Phishing Working Group
      The Anti-Phishing Working Group is an industry association focused on eliminating the identity theft and fraud that result from phishing and e-mail spoofing.

      Better Business Bureau (BBB)
      The BBB provides information for businesses on how they can protect the personal information of their customers so the information cannot be stolen for identity fraud.

      California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG)
      This organization focuses on privacy rights and identity theft, among other issues.

      Center for Identity Management and Information Protection (CIMIP)
      CIMIP is a research collaborative dedicated to furthering a national research agenda on identity management, information sharing, and data protection. CIMIP will facilitate a national research agenda on identity fraud and theft, information sharing policy, and data protection.

      Communications Fraud Control Association (CFCA)
      CFCA provides the communications industry with intelligence sharing (e.g., education and alerts regarding fraud-related information and schemes) and facilitates professional networking to help prevent and reduce fraud losses.

      Consumer Sentinel
      Consumer Sentinel is an innovative, international law enforcement fraud-fighting program. Using this restricted-access Web site, law enforcement agencies can access hundreds of thousands of complaints from consumers about identity theft and Internet cons, telemarketing scams, and other frauds.

      Consumer.gov
      Consumer.gov provides a broad range of Federal information resources available online, including information on Internet fraud statistics.

      Econsumer.gov
      This Web site provides general information about consumer protection in the countries that belong to the International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network (ICPEN), contact information for consumer protection authorities in those countries, and an online complaint form.

      Back to Top

      Equifax
      This service provides information on protecting yourself from identity theft and related resources, including Credit Watch, a credit-monitoring program.

      Experian
      Experian's Consumer Knowledge Center includes fraud prevention information and resources.

      Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
      Serves as the chief investigative unit for the U.S. Department of Justice in cases of fraud, including identity theft.

      Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC)
      The center lets consumers know where they can go for information on various topics, including consumer and Internet fraud.

      Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
      FDIC provides information for financial institutions in identity theft cases.

      Federal Reserve Board
      The board provides information for consumers on how they can protect their financial privacy.

      Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
      The Federal government's central Web site for information about identity theft includes government reports and congressional testimony, law enforcement updates, consumer alerts, and links to other sites with helpful information. Identity theft victims can file a complaint from this Web site or by calling (877) 382-4357.

      Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Consumer Information Security
      This Web site offers tips for consumers and businesses on computer security and protecting personal information.

      Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
      FinCEN brings people and information together to fight the complex problem of money laundering, linking Federal, State, local, and international law enforcement; regulatory communities; and financial communities to prevent and detect financial crimes.

      Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse
      The clearinghouse is part of Consumer Sentinel, an online cybertool and fraud complaint database used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the United States and abroad.

      Back to Top

      Identity Theft Prevention and Survival
      This Web site provides useful information, including a sample complaint letter, for victims of identity theft.

      Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC)
      ITRC is a nationwide, nonprofit organization dedicated to developing and implementing a comprehensive program to combat identity theft by supporting victims, broadening public awareness, disseminating information, and decreasing the potential victim population.  Among the resources provided is a section for teens to learn about the dangers of identity theft.

      International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP): National Law Enforcement Policy Center
      The center produces model policies on some of the most difficult issues facing law enforcement administrators, including identity theft.

      International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IAFCI)
      This organization concentrates on training and information dissemination to prevent and suppress financial transaction fraud worldwide.

      International High Technology Crime Investigation Association (HTCIA)
      HTCIA promotes and effects the voluntary interchange of information and knowledge about methods, processes, and techniques relating to investigations and security in advanced technologies.

      Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
      IC3, a partnership of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), serves as a central repository for complaints; works to quantify fraud patterns; and provides timely statistical data on current fraud trends.

      Military Sentinel
      Military Sentinel—a project of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Department of Defense —identifies and targets consumer protection issues that affect members of the military and their families.

      National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG)
      This Web site provides contact information for each State's Attorney General, as well as information on various issues, including cybercrime.

      National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA)
      A non-profit association of attorneys and consumer advocates committed to representing customers’ interests, including protection from identity theft.

      National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC)
      NCVC provides information about identity theft and resources for victims of identity theft.

      Back to Top

      National Check Fraud Center
      This center provides nationwide, updated multisource intelligence to support local law enforcement, federal agencies, and financial and retail communities in the detection, investigation, and prosecution of known check fraud and other white collar crimes.

      National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
      Provides information about State and Federal laws and other sources that address policies and strategies for combating identity theft.

      National Consumers League (NCL)
      This private, nonprofit advocacy group represents consumers on marketplace and workplace issues, including fraud and identity theft.

      National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC)
      Provides information about identity theft and tips to avoid becoming a victim.  Includes information on phishing and other Internet crimes.

      National District Attorneys Association (NDAA)
      A non-profit research and program development resource for prosecutors at all levels of government. Provides interdisciplinary responses to the complex problems of criminal justice, including the prosecution of fraud cases like identity theft.

      National Fraud Information Center
      The center provides a toll-free hotline for consumers to get advice about telephone or e-mail solicitations and to report possible telemarketing or Internet fraud to law enforcement agencies.

      National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C)
      NW3C provides a nationwide support system for agencies involved in the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of economic and high-tech crimes. It also supports and partners with other appropriate entities in addressing homeland security initiatives as they relate to economic and high-tech crimes.

      Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)
      This Web site links to organizations that provide information on identity theft and provides a list of fraud-related publications. The Web site also has the OVC HELP for Victim Service Providers Web forum, which is a place where victim service providers and allied professionals can connect to peers and share ideas about best practices for a variety of topics, including Identity Theft.

      Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
      This Web site provides resources and links to organizations that deal with identity theft.

      OnGuard Online
      OnGuardOnline.gov, which is maintained by the Federal Trade Commission, provides practical tips from the Federal government and the technology industry to help consumers be on guard against Internet fraud.  It also informs consumers on how to properly secure their computers and how to protect personal information.

      Back to Top

      Online Privacy Alliance (OPA)
      OPA provides information on self-regulatory initiatives that create an environment of trust and that foster the protection of individuals' privacy online and in electronic commerce.

      President's Identity Theft Task Force
      This site serves as a portal for federal government resources on identity theft, which include tips on protecting personal information and reporting identity theft.

      Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
      This nonprofit consumer education, research, and advocacy program provides practical information on privacy protection.

      StaySafeOnline.org
      This Web site from the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA)—a public-private partnership that includes the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and many private-sector corporations and organizations—provides tools and resources to empower home users, small businesses, and schools to stay safe online.

      TransUnion
      Provides credit and fraud-prevention data, including tips for avoiding fraud and fraud victim contact and reporting information.

      United Kingdom Home Office Identity Fraud Steering Committee
      This collaboration between United Kingdom financial bodies, government, and police combats identity theft.

      U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
      CFTC protects market participants against manipulation, abusive trade practices, and fraud.

      U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General
      This Web site provides information on identity theft involving students and student loans, including downloadable resources for students. It also set up a hotline for reporting fraud and Internet crimes related to educational funding.

      U.S. Department of Justice
      This Web site informs the public about what can be done to prevent becoming a victim of identity theft and fraud and provides information on how to report identity theft.

      U.S. Department of Justice: Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section
      Maintained by the U.S. Department of Justice, this Web site provides information on all forms of Internet crime for law enforcement agencies, policymakers, and the public.

      Back to Top

      U.S. Department of the Treasury: Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Compliance Policy
      This Web site provides links to resources for information on identity theft.

      U.S. Department of the Treasury: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
      The office charters, regulates, and supervises national banks to ensure a safe, sound, and competitive banking system that supports the citizens, communities, and economy of the United States.

      U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)
      This Web site provides information on various kinds of fraud, included sweepstakes and lotteries, personal finance-related schemes, employment schemes, and telephone solicitations.  Fraud Prevention DVD's are also available free of charge, including Identity Crisis: Protect Your Identity.

      U.S. Probation and U.S. Pretrial Services: Cybercrime Information Resources
      This restricted-access Web site is intended to provide a forum for the discussion and the pooling of resources to help those who supervise individuals who have been charged with or convicted of crimes that involved computers.

      U.S. Secret Service e-Information Network
      A unique collection of resource databases that help financial institutions and law enforcement obtain information on a variety of topics, including identity theft.

      U.S. Secret Service: Financial Crimes Division
      The division investigates crimes associated with financial institutions. Today, this jurisdiction includes bank fraud, access device fraud involving credit and debit cards, telecommunications and computer crimes, fraudulent identification, fraudulent government and commercial securities, and electronic funds transfer fraud.

      U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
      The SEC investigates complaints about investment fraud and cases involving misuse of identity in connection with securities transactions.

      U.S. Social Security Administration
      This online fact sheet provides victims who are trying to reclaim their identity with hotline numbers and information on how to work with credit bureaus and law enforcement agencies.

      U.S. Trustee Program
      This office, under the U.S. Department of Justice, oversees bankruptcy filings and has programs to minimize the risk of identity theft in conjunction with bankruptcy filings.
      Better Business Bureaus Alerts
      The Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) posts warnings to notify consumers and businesses about recently discovered, fraudulent business scams, as well as help resolve buyer/seller complaints against a business including mediation and arbitration services.
      TreasuryDirect
      Is it really a security and is it really backed by the U.S. Government? Many schemes have been directed at banks, charities, companies, and even individuals, by others seeking payment on fraudulent securities. The BPD will alert you to these scams and help you protect yourself from being taken in.
      Coalition Against Insurance Fraud
      The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud is the only national organization dedicated exclusively to fighting insurance fraud through public advocacy and public education.
      Consumer Sentinal
      See how law enforcement all over the world work together to fight fraud, using Consumer Sentinel, an innovative, international law enforcement fraud-fighting program.
      Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
      Confused over your telephone bill? You're not alone. Consumer confusion has significantly contributed to the growth of slamming, cramming and other types of telecommunications fraud. Contact the FCC to learn how to avoid those unwanted telephone solicitations or to report other abusive techniques.
      Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
      The FTC works to protect consumers against unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent practices, and enforces a variety of federal antitrust and consumer protection laws. Don’t get taken in by these everyday scams.
      Food Stamp Program
      The USDA investigates criminal violations of the Food Stamp Act. Information concerning food stamp trafficking, theft of food stamps, or other criminal violations of the Food Stamp Act should be reported.
      Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
      Federal laws and regulations protect you from discrimination, fraud, and unscrupulous practices in buying and renting a home. Don't be a victim of people who may profit at your expense.
      Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC)
      Provides victims of Internet fraud a convenient, easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of a suspected criminal or civil violation. The IFCC is a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center.
      Medicare Fraud and Abuse
      Medicare is taking strong action to combat fraud and abuse in key areas. Their goal is to make sure Medicare only does business with legitimate providers and suppliers who will provide Medicare beneficiaries with high quality services.
      Military Sentinel
      Allows members of the United States Armed Forces to enter consumer complaints directly into a database that is immediately accessible by over 500 law enforcement organizations throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia. These law enforcement agencies use this complaint data to target cases for prosecution and other enforcement measures.
      MyVesta.org
      Myvesta.org is the nation's first non-profit, Internet-based financial counseling and services organization. They help people to overcome their money troubles through education and special programs. Myvesta.org was founded as Debt Counselors of America.
      National Fraud Information Center (NFIC)
      The NFIC is a nationwide toll-free hotline for consumers to get advice about telephone solicitation and report possible telemarketing fraud to law enforcement agencies.

      NFIC Hotline 1-800-876-7060
      Securities and Exchange Commission
      Provides information on how to invest your hard earned dollars wisely and keeping an eye out for investment scams. To learn more about how to avoid costly mistakes and fraud, read the SEC's "Investor Alerts."
      Social Security Administration
      Is someone using your Social Security Number or falsely claiming disability rights? Get the facts on Social Security fraud.

      Social Security Fraud Hotline 1-800-269-0271
      U.S. Postal Inpection Service
      The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has a long, history of fighting criminals who attack our nation's postal system and misuse it to defraud the American public.