| Consumers are not the only ones concerned | | | | particular concern in light of the growing |
| about and taking steps to protect against | | | | trend of medical identity theft, in which an |
| identity theft. Many states are taking | | | | individuals' insurance information is used to |
| important steps to protect their residents. A | | | | obtain medical services or to commit |
| few of these steps include stiffer penalties, | | | | insurance fraud. Under the settlement |
| imposing sanctions and fines on careless | | | | agreement, the state of Texas will receive |
| companies and providing their residents with | | | | nearly $1.5 million in fines, including |
| many tools necessary to correct the errors | | | | attorney's fees. As outlined in the Identity |
| that identity theft has caused. Many identity | | | | Theft and Protection Act, the remainder will |
| theft savvy consumers are: installing | | | | be used for the investigation and prosecution |
| anti-spy ware, using shredders, reducing the | | | | of future cases of identity theft. Stiff |
| use of their social security number, using | | | | penalties are just one of the steps taken to |
| services to stop junk mail and risky credit | | | | protect and prevent identity theft. The Texas |
| card applications. But what about the | | | | Attorney General's Office has created a |
| actions of others? After all the care you | | | | checklist for victims of identity theft to |
| take to protect yourself, what happens when | | | | take steps and track their progress during |
| others, such as companies or service | | | | recovery. The identity theft check list |
| providers do not? Businesses that have access | | | | includes information and forms on: closing |
| to your information aren't always looking for | | | | all fraudulent accounts made in your name, |
| you. It is far too easy to simply throw | | | | contacting the 3 major credit reporting |
| important personal information away, than to | | | | agencies and requesting a fraud alert or |
| take the sometimes expensive steps needed to | | | | security freeze for new accounts, reporting |
| have it professionally disposed of. But many | | | | identity theft crimes for local law |
| states are looking out for your best | | | | enforcement and obtaining a copy of the |
| interest, especially when it comes to | | | | police report, and reporting identity theft |
| identity theft. Texas has a growing | | | | crimes to Federal Trade Commission and |
| reputation for being proactive in preventing | | | | completing and ID Theft Affidavit. Victims |
| identity theft and tough on punishing | | | | are also advised to file a consumer complaint |
| businesses who don't protect the consumer. | | | | with the Office of the Attorney General in |
| Texas law requires vendors to take specific | | | | the event that they are harassed by credit |
| precautions before disposing of personal | | | | collectors as a result of identity theft. |
| documents that may include customers' bank | | | | Additionally The Texas Attorney General's |
| accounts, driver's license and Social | | | | Office also offers an Identity Theft Victim's |
| Security numbers. In the state of Texas, you | | | | Kit. According to 2006 state statistics on |
| can bet companies will be thinking twice | | | | identity theft, Texas ranks fourth in the |
| before dumping your credit application in a | | | | area of identity theft. States are ranked |
| public trash can. Examples of Poor Business | | | | according to victims per 100,000 people, and |
| Practices: Public trash cans outside a local | | | | it should be noted that Texas also has a |
| Radio Shack were filled with thousands of | | | | higher population than many other states. The |
| customer's sensitive personal and credit | | | | top ten states with the Most Victims of |
| information after the dumping of these | | | | Identity Theft Per Capita are: Arizona, |
| documents. Credit applications containing | | | | Nevada, California, Texas, Florida, Colorado, |
| names, social security numbers, debit and | | | | Georgia, New York, Washington, and New |
| credit card numbers as well as addresses and | | | | Mexico. Just because your state did not make |
| telephone numbers and receipts were located, | | | | the top ten list, doesn't mean you are safe. |
| exposing many Radio Shack Consumers to | | | | No matter where you live, this crime is a |
| identity theft or credit card fraud. After | | | | real problem. Information, advocacy, laws and |
| investigations by the State of Texas Attorney | | | | prosecutions in any state will ultimately |
| General's office, a settlement was reached. | | | | help everyone but in the mean time consumers |
| Under the settlement with Radio-Shack, the | | | | must educate themselves and arm themselves |
| retailer is required to enhance security | | | | with protection against identity theft as |
| procedures and implement employee training. | | | | well as the remedies available to them. With |
| Radio Shack also agreed to unannounced | | | | the continued efforts of law enforcement, |
| compliance audits in all Texas stores | | | | state and federal agencies, stiffer fines and |
| bi-annually. Select Medical was investigated | | | | penalties as well as requiring a higher |
| after a report that over 4,000 documents were | | | | standard of care from businesses, progress is |
| found in the garbage behind their Select | | | | being made on many levels in protecting |
| Physical Therapy Location. These un-shredded | | | | consumers. |
| records included bank account numbers, drug | | | | |
| testing results, insurance verification | | | | Lisa Carey is a contributing author for |
| sheets as well as sensitive social and | | | | Identity Theft Secrets: prevention and |
| vocational therapy questionnaires. Select | | | | protection. You can get tips on Identity |
| Medical will also be required to amend | | | | theft protection, software, and monitoring |
| security procedures and implement training | | | | your credit as well as learn more about the |
| for Texas employees about the newly | | | | secrets used by identity thieves at the |
| established state laws governing customer | | | | Identity Theft Secrets blog. |
| record disposal. The insurance forms are of | | | | |