LOUISIANA EXPERT GIVES IDENTITY THEFT ADVICE http://www.edailynews.info/articles/2007/03/19/news/news07.txt

Expert gives Rotarians advice on avoiding identity theft

- Pro-tecting against identity theft is not only an individual concern, but also one facing many businesses.That was the message given to members of the Franklinton Rotary Club Thursday afternoon by M. Brooks Werkheiser, regional vice president for Pre-Paid Legal Services and an identity theft expert. Joining in the presentation was Valorie Cleveland, an associate with the national Oklahoma-based law firm. Wekheiser operates from Jackson, Miss., Cleveland is from Livingston.Werkheiser clearly defined identity theft and differentiated it from bank fraud, which includes credit card theft.He said there are five types of identity theft or loss: a driver's license number, social security number, medical records/history, financial records and personal character, which includes criminal history.If an individual steals someone's identity and uses it to get a driver's license, the thief may have his picture on the card but the name and information is yours, Werkheiser said.
So if the thief is charged with speeding, the "speeding charge (and fine) goes on your record," he explained.The headaches, he said, become the theft victim's headaches.He used the example of a woman who sought a teaching job but was denied it because she had a prostitution arrest on her record. The person arrested for prostitution had stolen the woman's purse and took her driver's license so the victim of the theft was left with a criminal record and no job. The victim had quickly cancelled her credit cards, Werkheiser said, but did not realize what thieves could use in order to steal a person's identity and cover up criminal activity.Until everything is cleared up all of the negative impacts from identity theft follow the victim, he explained.To protect against identity theft, Werkheiser recommended several steps including:
regular monitoring of one's credit report with at least one of the nation's top credit reporting agencies,
restrict who gets your personal information,
limit the information you carry, and
visit a federal website on identity theft - www.consumer.gov/idtheftToday's society is too hungry for information from private businesses seeking data on their customer base to government agencies, Werkheiser said.Churches are not immune, Werkheiser added, as they are now accepting credit card donations and tithing. Those credit card numbers are then open to anyone in the church, he warned.He said he went to get utility service turned on and was asked for his social security number by the clerk. Instead of asking for the card or number to be written down, he said he was asked to say it out loud in front of everyone in the office. He was then asked by the clerk for his driver's license."Why do they need all that information," he asked those in attendance at the Rotary Club meeting.Along with individual theft, a growing problem is the threat facing businesses as computer thieves are stealing information about clients and employees.Government agencies and universities are also facing a similar problem as Werkheiser cited theft of data from the Veteran's Administration, UCLA and Mississippi State University.To protect individuals from the theft of information collected by business and government agencies, Congress passed a law called FACTA (The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act). For information on FACTA visit www.privacyrights.orgAs a result of FACTA and other legislation, a business faces criminal and civil penalties including hefty fines should information in their data base fall into the wrong hands or is stolen.To go along with FACTA, Congress established a federal rule called the Gramm, Leach and Biley Safeguards.It requires businesses to protect consumer or client information with a security plan that includes hiring an information security officer and security training for employees.Werkheiser said businesses must be on the lookout for signals that could lead to insider theft such as employees being arrested, and employees or management with financial or personal problems.Because prevention is the best solution, he urged businesses and individuals to be proactive in protecting personal data and financial records.The average person ends up spending about 600 hours clearing up identity theft problems, he said, and that time often bleeds into work time making the employee or manager less efficient.Therefore, businesses should educate their workforce about identity theft and ways to prevent it, he said.