ID Theft, Protection, And Restoration

Do you think that Identity Theft can happen in your workplace?

There’s always someone at the office who is a real PITA; you don’t trust them any farther than you can throw them.  Do you think that person might have access to your personal identifying information like your social security number and home address?  That would make your skin crawl due to the fact that not only do they know where you live, but they have access to take your vital info.  They can sell it or pass it along to someone else who could commit identity theft crimes against you — and that’s a fact!!

So Bob and I are taking the bull by the horns.  New legislation was passed that requires all employers, no matter how big or small, to be proactive in educating their employees and putting measures in place so your personal identifying information is protected from prying eyes that have no right to ever see that data.  However, the legislation meant to protect you was to be in place by November 1, 2008, today, but has been delayed until May of next year, like for banks.  Hmn.

In any event, Bob (my silent partner for the moment) has come up with a plan to help companies lock down their information.  However, we can’t cover every company in the US, but we do have the info available to help your company tighten up their security  in regard to your personal identifying information and protect you against identity theft by fellow employees.

If you work in an office where you think measures should be tightened up, tell us about it.

Your Identity Doc,

Nancy Dewitz is co-founder of BTR-Security with personal Identity Theft solutions tailored to consumers’ specific needs. She and her partner Robert Listerman are authors of the ebook “The Many Faces of Identity Theft.” They are consumer advocates and creators of individualized Identity Protection programs that give you and your family the options needed to keep your life intact.

If you have an Identity Theft story or experience that you’d like to share and become part of our upcoming book, please let us know. We’d love to hear all about it.

Who is to blame if your identity is misused? Do you have any recourse against where or how the thief obtained your identity in the first place? Yes, you do!

When an organization who you have given your PII (personal identifying information; such as social security number, birth date, mother’s maiden name, account numbers, and the list goes on…) to is liable if they have not taken “reasonable steps” to protect your information by the Federal Trade Commission.

This posting is the first in a series that will pertain to laws that any and all organizations must comply with for protecting personal identifying information. If you happen to be responsible for an organization, this series will be important information on what you must do to address Federal Trade Commission compliance issues.

If you are an individual, this series will inform you as to what you can expect from an organization you have entrusted to maintain your Personal Identifying Information in order for you to do business with them. You may be an employee, customer, sub-contractor, or vendor. We will cover how an individual can minimize their liability for fraudulent transactions and how the organization can do the same. Your questions are welcomed as we address these responsibilities on each side of an identity theft incident. So let’s get started…

The law states that if an individual brings notice to an organization that a fraudulent transaction occurred within two business days, the maximum liability they can be held for is $50.00 If the fraudulent transaction is reported to the organization after two days but before 60 days, their maximum liability is $500. If the fraudulent transaction is reported to the organization after 60 days, the organization has full right to expect payment in full from the victim as their statutory limit has expired.

Lesson for the individual: When you receive a statement in the mail from any organization, you must review it immediately for any fraudulent transactions. Failing to do so may mean you will have to honor the transaction in full after 60 days. For more information on how to file an identity theft affidavit see our website for the procedure you must file to make a claim if identity theft.

Lesson for the organization: You must report transactions to your customer on a regular basis or the statutory clock will not start. For more information on how to handle a fraudulent identity theft claim made by an individual see our website for the procedure you must follow to process such a claim. (You will find how to assist victims about half-way down the page.)

In the next part of this series I will cover some examples that victims have reported. If you have any questions in the meantime or examples of your own, please post a reply and I will be sure to address your contribution.

Bob Listerman, CPA, CITRMS
(Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist)