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This is a letter I received from my U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell about Identity Theft. From: Maria Cantwell December 5, 2003 Dear Ms. Ryan: Thank you for contacting me regarding the problem of identity theft. I appreciate hearing from you. As you may know, identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. Identity theft occurs when someone wrongfully uses your personal identification to obtain credit, loans, goods or services in your name. Last year, there were over 500,000 new victims of identity theft and, during this coming year, approximately one person per minute will have their identity stolen. Because of the nature of this crime, it takes an average of 12 months for a victim to learn that he or she has been a victim of identity theft. Once a victim has identified the problem, he or she will spend an average of 175 hours over 23 months and over $800 to clear up his or her credit record. Unfortunately, victims of identity theft lose much more than time and money. The crime of identity theft is a serious violation of privacy, which strips victims of a sense of control over their personal information. Frustratingly, more than thirty percent of identity theft victims are limited in their recourse because creditors refuse to share useful information about the suspect. This is why I introduced the Identity Theft Victims Assistance Act of 2003 (S.1581). This bill was identical to a bill (S.1742) I introduced that passed the Senate in 2002. This legislation requires a business entity possessing information relating to an identity theft to share that information with a crime victim and limits liability for a business entity that provides such information. The bill also increases information flow about identity theft between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to aid anti-terrorism activities. Finally, the bill preserves consumers' rights to sue creditors by revising the statute of limitations so that the two-year period would not begin until the victim became aware of the fraud. I am pleased to say that on November 4, 2003, the text of the Identity Theft Victims Assistance Act of 2003 was added to the Senate version of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (S.1753) by a voice vote. The FCRA is currently being negotiated by a House-Senate conference committee, and I have been working with my colleagues to ensure that my amendment remains in the final version of the bill. Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any further assistance in the future. Sincerely,
Maria Cantwell | ||
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