Bill would let ID theft victims seek restitution

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan bill that would let victims of identity theft seek restitution for money and time they spent repairing their credit history was introduced on Tuesday in the Senate.

The legislation would also give federal prosecutors more tools to combat identity theft and cyber crime, according to sponsors Democrat Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Republican Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.

Leahy is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Specter is the ranking Republican on the panel.

Last year, 8.4 million Americans were victims of identity theft and many were left with a bad credit report which takes months or years to repair, the lawmakers said.

"Cyber criminals are getting smarter and more effective in their online efforts to strip Americans of their privacy, and their property," Leahy said in a statement.

The bill would also eliminate a requirement that the loss resulting from damage to a victim's computer must exceed $5,000 for prosecution; make it a felony to use spyware or keyloggers to damage 10 or more computers; and expand the definition of cyber crime to include extortion schemes that threaten to damage or access confidential information on a computer.

link

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I know a couple of people this happened to - including one person whose identity was stolen by a neighbour living in the same apartment block - using stolen mail.

[Jasman0717 9]

A friend just went through the I.D. theft ordeal and thinks it had to do with the DSW breech from last year.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

[Jaseball 0]

I had my ID stolen this year. Came home and found 3 fed ex/ups packages with 3 different types of American Express cards. There were ones in my name and two names I did not recognize. Then in the mailbox I found letters from other creditors saying they needed more information to process my applications.

Seeing as how I have not applied for credit cards in 8+ years or more I figured I was screwed. Went online and did a credit report check and found like 20+ credit inquiries and about 10 new accounts.

This person was using my name and SS# to apply for credit and adding the two other names as sub accounts, but using my credit. I didn't even know they could do something like this.

I spent put a 7 year fraud alert with all 3 credit bureaus. Spent weeks calling creditor after creditor trying to close down accounts and explaining what was going on. Filed a police report (One reason I am such a big advocate of documenting things like this) Contacted the US Postal Inspectors and filed reports everywhere I could.

Long story short. About one month later I came home late. I had gone to dinner and didn't get back until 9:30pm and I saw a white SUV idling in front of my house and this African American female snooping round my front steps.

I took down the license plate number and saw the woman go back into the passenger side and they drove off. I had pulled into my neighbor's driveway and was pretending to look at directions. Then I drove down my street and parked 4 houses down. The white SUV came back 2 minutes later, paused in front of my house, then drove off again.

I called the police and amended my report to include the plate number.

The SUV was a rental from Enterprise, but it turns out they used one of the ID theft credit cards and this thief was stupid enough to have used her real name. She wasn't like the really sophisticated ones who steal and ID - birth certificate, drivers license, SS number, the works.

The police and postal inspector tracked her down to her apartment and raided it, but she was gone, but they found evidence like my mail, other people's mail, checks, letters, computer printouts, applications, etc.

Warrant was issued for her arrest. They nabbed her on a traffic stop a few weeks later. She pleaded out, but I went to court to testify how much of a pain ID theft is and how she screwed my time and financial records.

She got 15 months state prison. I think she got off easy.

Not I have my credit reports monitored, have a safe-like locking mailbox, and a security system installed.

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

She got 15 months state prison. I think she got off easy.

Not I have my credit reports monitored, have a safe-like locking mailbox, and a security system installed.

agreed she got off easy. also good points above - still have to change out my mailbox - i also mail all bills on base, mailboxes there are more secure. i never mail anything in the mailbox out here, too many times people in the county have been victim to checkwashing.

[Jaseball 0]

She got 15 months state prison. I think she got off easy.

Not I have my credit reports monitored, have a safe-like locking mailbox, and a security system installed.

agreed she got off easy. also good points above - still have to change out my mailbox - i also mail all bills on base, mailboxes there are more secure. i never mail anything in the mailbox out here, too many times people in the county have been victim to checkwashing.

Yeah, unless you have to deal with being an ID theft victim it is hard to imagine. The crazy part is I was always paranoid about ID theft. I shredded papers, used online only/no paper trails, encrypt files, etc. I think she got my SS# from compromised work employee files and that made my protective actions useless.

The best thing to do is to check your credit reports quarterly. Call them up and opt out of pre-approved credit card solicitations.

Also, regarding the bill. I would rather they face more penalties and longer prison time. You can't go after people who are criminals because they have nothing for you to recoup financially. It would be a waste of time for the most part. These people don't have jobs, assets, skills, or money. That's why they are out there trying to steal credit and ID's of legitimate people.

Edited October 18, 2007 by Jaseball

[Jasman0717 9]

I had my ID stolen this year. Came home and found 3 fed ex/ups packages with 3 different types of American Express cards. There were ones in my name and two names I did not recognize. Then in the mailbox I found letters from other creditors saying they needed more information to process my applications.

Seeing as how I have not applied for credit cards in 8+ years or more I figured I was screwed. Went online and did a credit report check and found like 20+ credit inquiries and about 10 new accounts.

This person was using my name and SS# to apply for credit and adding the two other names as sub accounts, but using my credit. I didn't even know they could do something like this.

I spent put a 7 year fraud alert with all 3 credit bureaus. Spent weeks calling creditor after creditor trying to close down accounts and explaining what was going on. Filed a police report (One reason I am such a big advocate of documenting things like this) Contacted the US Postal Inspectors and filed reports everywhere I could.

Long story short. About one month later I came home late. I had gone to dinner and didn't get back until 9:30pm and I saw a white SUV idling in front of my house and this African American female snooping round my front steps.

I took down the license plate number and saw the woman go back into the passenger side and they drove off. I had pulled into my neighbor's driveway and was pretending to look at directions. Then I drove down my street and parked 4 houses down. The white SUV came back 2 minutes later, paused in front of my house, then drove off again.

I called the police and amended my report to include the plate number.

The SUV was a rental from Enterprise, but it turns out they used one of the ID theft credit cards and this thief was stupid enough to have used her real name. She wasn't like the really sophisticated ones who steal and ID - birth certificate, drivers license, SS number, the works.

The police and postal inspector tracked her down to her apartment and raided it, but she was gone, but they found evidence like my mail, other people's mail, checks, letters, computer printouts, applications, etc.

Warrant was issued for her arrest. They nabbed her on a traffic stop a few weeks later. She pleaded out, but I went to court to testify how much of a pain ID theft is and how she screwed my time and financial records.

She got 15 months state prison. I think she got off easy.

Not I have my credit reports monitored, have a safe-like locking mailbox, and a security system installed.

Wow, this sounds very similiar to what my friend is experiencing except I don't think they have caught anyone yet.

15 months seems very light, I think maybe 150 years would be more appropriate. I suppose she will be out on good behavior in six weeks and can start robbing someone else

[natty bumppo 297]

Wow, this sounds very similiar to what my friend is experiencing except I don't think they have caught anyone yet.

15 months seems very light, I think maybe 150 years would be more appropriate. I suppose she will be out on good behavior in six weeks and can start robbing someone else

or maybe ... if someone steals an identity ... the thief is responsible for the victims debt for the remainder of the victims life

On a serious note ... my AMEX # got stolen two months ago ... thank God for AMEX !!

Did you know there are jeans that cost $300+ per pair ???

Jeans ... this guy really wanted

I'm just glad that AMEX and Nordstrom worked with me ...

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

She got 15 months state prison. I think she got off easy.

Not I have my credit reports monitored, have a safe-like locking mailbox, and a security system installed.

agreed she got off easy. also good points above - still have to change out my mailbox - i also mail all bills on base, mailboxes there are more secure. i never mail anything in the mailbox out here, too many times people in the county have been victim to checkwashing.

Yeah, unless you have to deal with being an ID theft victim it is hard to imagine. The crazy part is I was always paranoid about ID theft. I shredded papers, used online only/no paper trails, encrypt files, etc. I think she got my SS# from compromised work employee files and that made my protective actions useless.

The best thing to do is to check your credit reports quarterly. Call them up and opt out of pre-approved credit card solicitations.

Also, regarding the bill. I would rather they face more penalties and longer prison time. You can't go after people who are criminals because they have nothing for you to recoup financially. It would be a waste of time for the most part. These people don't have jobs, assets, skills, or money. That's why they are out there trying to steal credit and ID's of legitimate people.

i had an incident a few years ago, it concerned my credit card and a charge at a chain store that mysteriously an ex-g/f of mine shopped at......mastercard took care of it real quick, just had to sign an affidavit over it.

[Nessa 23]

Did you know there are jeans that cost $300+ per pair ???

Jeans ... this guy really wanted

you were robbed by a gay man. I know there are jeans that cost like 500, weird sh!t.

[Jaseball 0]

Even though the criminal got my SS number and messed with my credit and opened accounts I do feel lucky in some ways.

If she was sophisticated or really smart she would have stolen someone else's ID down to driver's license, SS card, birth certificate, etc. That is the worst case I can imagine-someone actually pretending to be you. They commit crimes, apply for loans, buy houses, apply for work, and do everything as YOU. When they are caught all their crimes, tickets, fines, etc., go under your identity.

That is the real danger and nightmare ID theft situation and it is nearly impossible to catch these people. Happened to several people I talked to when I was researching what to do in my own situation.

Getting a credit card number ripped off or having someone pass a bad check is just fraud. It's annoying, but it isn't ID theft.

[Amby 490]

my mom had this happen to her about 7yrs ago...someone had all the utilities turned on in their house in her name and had a female call every time, tons of credit cards, a mortgage! so even though she had filed a police report and called all the companies and explained it took her almost 2yrs and bankruptcy to get people to stop hounding her for money.

[Jaseball 0]

my mom had this happen to her about 7yrs ago...someone had all the utilities turned on in their house in her name and had a female call every time, tons of credit cards, a mortgage! so even though she had filed a police report and called all the companies and explained it took her almost 2yrs and bankruptcy to get people to stop hounding her for money.

Yeah, this is the sort of thing people don't really worry about because they figure it won't happen to them.

Another thing for me is if someone actually stole my ID it would probably have an effect on my current K1 visa process.