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by Frank W. Abagnale
Stealing Your Life is more frightening than a gory murder mystery. Any one of us, from cradle to grave, is vulnerable to a swindle that can wreck us emotionally, cost us serious money, ruin our credit ratings, and take us years to straighten out. Identity theft is here to stay, and as long as legislators, businesses, law enforcement agencies, and individuals fail to take it seriously, the number of victims will continue to climb.
For thirty-two years, the author has been a law-abiding citizen; his criminal past, famously recounted in the book and film "Catch Me If You Can," is a distant memory. However, he knows how crooks think, and this knowledge has led to a lucrative career as a consultant for the FBI and corporations all over the world in preventing frauds and scams. Abagnale is horrified at how easy and tempting identity theft is for the budding criminal. He calls it "a crook's dream come true."
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Identity Theft Law - Protect Yourself from Thieves by Exercising Your Rights
Over the past few years, each new identity theft law seeks to protect consumers and businesses from what statistics show to be one of the fastest growing crimes in America today.
Know your rights and what kind of protection the government gives you by these two examples (one state law, the other federal) of US identity theft law.
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Identity Theft Law - State Credit Freeze
Did you know that half the states in America today allow you to freeze your credit report? What can this do? Well, it can stop an identity thief from taking out a credit card under your name.
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If your credit report is frozen, three things happen:
1. A credit card company cannot access your files.
2. The company can't perform a credit check.
3. The credit card issuer can't give you a credit rating or score.
This means, no new credit card. Under this identity theft law, the only way to unfreeze your credit report is for you to use your PIN to allow access to your files.
You can exercise your right to a credit freeze by simply requesting it. If you've been a victim of identity theft, there's no charge. If not, there's a small fee – which you're definitely better off paying to avail yourself of the benefits of this identity theft law, rather than facing the consequences if you don't.
Credit freeze laws are already in force in the following states.
Credit freeze will be available in Utah starting September 2008.
Identity Theft Law - ID Theft & Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998
This is the legislation that outlawed the new crime of identity theft. This cornerstone identity theft law outlaws:
The use or transfer, without having any legal authority, any means of identifying another individual to abet an illegal act that violates local, state, and/or federal laws.
The penalties under this identity theft law are:
* 15 years in prison, maximum
PLUS, the thief may also incure penalties (some sentences are up to 30 years, plus fines, etc.) under EACH of the following federal fraud laws that may have also been violated: |
Index of Articles about Indentity Theft
What Other Authors say about Indentify Theft
Identity Theft Solution - A Three-Way Street
by Carl LaFresnaye
An effective identity theft solution can't only be the work of a single entity.
You can take all the precautions necessary, for example, but if your bank does not set up a proactive identity theft solution,... Sadly, many Americans only think of identity theft protection once they've been victimized. In the unfortunate tradition of closing the barn door after the horse has escaped, many of us install Firewalls,... That is what identity theft is, according to the FBI. But simplest definition of identity theft is when someone steals your name and personal data to commit fraud, often for financial gain. The most common... Learning about identity theft is one of the most important things you will do in your lifetime, since millions fall victim each year. If you have fallen victim of identity theft, the time to come to blows... The early history of identity theft is closely allied with the history of the credit card. First appearing in American literature in the mid 1990s, identity theft's first targets were said to be consumers.... Perhaps the most practical identity theft prevention tip is discovering just where your lifestyle and habits are most vulnerable to attacks. If you can stop a thief in his tracks, it will save you loads... If you fall into the hands of an identity, theft it is important to continuing monitor your credit reports and any financial statements throughout the legal process. You will need to check your reports... Believe it or not identity theft has moved to the dead. It is compounding more and more family's grief because con artists are digging up identities of the deceased. The identity of someone who has died... Identity theft and fraud has claimed over nine million victims in America within a recent 12-month period. Out of this number, most of the victims (85%) discovered they were victimized in a negative manner... An identity theft story can involve ANYONE. If you think that only unsuspecting housewives, too harassed by the many chores they have to get done with children in tow, would fall prey to identity thieves... |
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