ME&MEE

The FTC is executing a study to examine the experience of identity victims when they call into one or more of the credit reporting agencies. The study will focus on consumers who contacted the FTC between January 1 and May 30, 2008.

The base for this study is under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act of 2003 (FACT Act), which the FTC is using to analyze the remedies that are available to identity theft victims. The overall outcome expected from this study is that the FTC can learn more about  how to better enforce this and other laws that effect these victims and also to better educate both consumers and the reporting industry about their rights and responsibilities.

The President’s Identity Theft Task Force was a strong backer of the survey idea and they are taking the initiative to carry out the entire study.

An Associated Press article out today makes a good point about the government’s mixed messages on social security number uses.  For all the good work the Federal Trade Commission has done on identity theft awareness and prevention, other government agencies aren’t helping us follow the FTC’s advice.   Among some of the contradictory advice, while the FTC tells us to guard our social security number carefully and not keep it in our wallet.  However, the article cites the fact that Medicare insurance cards (44 million of them) include the individual’s social security number.

Some legislators have caught on to the problem and are trying to push through changes.  In the meantime, be as careful as you can with your SSN and check your credit report throughout the year to make sure your identity really is yours.

The Identity Theft Resource Center has released new research citing a 69% increase in data breach disclosures in 2008.   The top reason for a data breach continues to be lost or stolen laptops, but “insider” theft increased percentage wise to nearly 16% of the breaches reported.  Forty-four states and DC now have data breach notification laws, so data breach plans must rising in importance to compliance officers and business managers.  Kudos to the ITRC for the detailed research.