Credit freezes could stop identity theft

[lovuian]

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/redir.php?jid=aaa68a73506cdea3&cat=c08dd24cec417021

By Kevin Corke
NBC News correspondent
Updated: 7:26 p.m. ET April 25, 2005Barbara Haviluk says the call came out of nowhere.

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"Discover Card informed me that a person had all my information," she says.

A thief had her mother's maiden name, her Social Security number and more.

"It was like an out-of-body experience to realize that somebody could then use me for their financial gain."

She's not alone. More than 5 million Americans have had their personal information lost or stolen in the last six months. Many don't realize there are things they can do to protect themselves.

Experts say you can ask the credit reporting agencies for what's called a "fraud alert." Typically good for 90 days, they raise a red flag on any unusual credit activity.
You can tell credit card companies to stop sending those convenience checks. They can be stolen from your mailbox.
Consider using a P.O. box or perhaps buying a lockable mailbox for your home
more...

This is going to be law in future states!!! Fight Back!!!

[NYC]

1. This part is probably true:

More than 5 million Americans have had their personal information lost or stolen in the last six months.

The companies who lose this information ought to be held responsible. They compile information on us, then store it in a non-secure way. When the information is stolen, who suffers?

[Journeyman]

2. Companies that possess our credit information should be required...

to keep their computer records encrypted, to minimize the possibility of theft, and they should have to carry insurance sufficient to cover the costs of notifying everyone in their records if their information becomes compromised in anyway.

[NYC]

3. Their insurance should cover the cost of the damage to

the victim of identity theft. The company screws up; the victim pays. That is wrong.

[Journeyman]

4. Good touch. It should also cover the cost. . .

of correcting the situation. Why should you and I have to pay to clear our good name when the only "mistake" made had nothing to do with us?