STRIKE BACK - DEFEAT IDENTITY THEFT NOW
For the eighth straight year, the Federal Trade Commission has labeled identity theft as the fastest growing crime in the United States. That is eight years too long! With millions of new victims each year, thieves have made statistics out of children, the elderly, the rich and the poor.
Since 2005, more than 230 million Americans (80,000 people a day) have received notice that their personal information has gone missing, causing panic, frustration and stress to those affected.
Recently, Congress has taken steps to provide consumers with basic safeguards to protect personal information and prevent identity theft, however much more needs to be done. As consumers we need to be united in urging Congress to provide the following:
» Request stronger penalties that will prosecute identity thieves
» Assign more funding to law enforcement to fight this crime
» Enact laws to prevent agencies from selling personal information
» Demand that the Social Security Administration create a checks-and-balances system for the correct use of Social Security Numbers.
Join LifeLock® and urge your Congressional Representatives to enact identity theft protection legislation that makes sense and really works.
For the eighth straight year, the Federal Trade Commission has labeled identity theft as the fastest growing crime in the United States. That is eight years too long! With millions of new victims each year, thieves have made statistics out of children, the elderly, the rich and the poor.
Since 2005, more than 230 million Americans (80,000 people a day) have received notice that their personal information has gone missing, causing panic, frustration and stress to those affected.
Recently, Congress has taken steps to provide consumers with basic safeguards to protect personal information and prevent identity theft, however much more needs to be done. As consumers we need to be united in urging Congress to provide the following:
» Request stronger penalties that will prosecute identity thieves
» Assign more funding to law enforcement to fight this crime
» Enact laws to prevent agencies from selling personal information
» Demand that the Social Security Administration create a checks-and-balances system for the correct use of Social Security Numbers.
Join LifeLock® and urge your Congressional Representatives to enact identity theft protection legislation that makes sense and really works.
We the undersigned are writing to urge you to support comprehensive legislation to protect consumers from the growing threat of identity theft.
For the eighth straight year, the Federal Trade Commission has labeled identity theft as the fastest growing crime in the United States and I believe that this is eight years too long! With millions of new victims each year, thieves have made statistics out of children, the elderly, the rich and the poor. When will this stop?
Since 2005 more than 230 million Americans - that's 80,000 people a day - have received notice their personal information has gone missing, causing panic, frustration and stress to those affected.
It's time for Congress to give Americans meaningful identity theft protections. Insist on stronger penalties when third party agencies lose my personal information. Demand stronger penalties to prosecute identity thieves and curb the crime. Assign more funding to law enforcement to fight this battle. Enact laws to prevent agencies from selling my personal information. Demand that the Social Security Administration create a checks-and-balances system for the correct use of Social Security Numbers.
We are hopeful that this issue is as important to you as it is to your constituents. We would like to see Congress take a stand on this issue and maybe in 2009, identity theft will no longer be the fastest growing crime in the U.S.
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I am a victim of identity theft. This is very disturbing and consumes a lot of time and expense to work on rectifying. I believe it is happening to more people every minute. It seems that no one is being prosecuted for this, I never read or hear news accounts of it anyway.
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9:33 am PDT, May 9,
Linnard Childress, Washington
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We need "strong" deterrants to put an end to this nightmare.
We can't be safe if we can't keep our identity.
IDENTITY THEFT NEEDS TO BE PUNISHED MORE HEAVILY. THE PENALTIES NEED TO BE INCREASED TO DETER THE CRIME.
I am a victim of identity theft and am still trying to sort out this mess. If some of the guidelines above had been in force and adhered to, I might not be suffering the way I am now.
this isnt something we cant stop, we just need more people to take this seriously and make the bureaus, companies etc, put the safety measures in place
We certainly need stronger penalties for these technologically advanced individals/criminals. Additionally, we need to educate the public on how to protect themselves from cyber criminals./
I have been a victim of identity theft and although mine was not as serious as other victims, we still need better protection against it.
DOO WHAT YOU CAN TO PROTECT ME FROM PROPERTY SEFT.
I have had my identity stolen twice to my knowledge. Both of those incidents they opened a Direct TV account in my name running up the bill. I successfully challenged the first one, and when I moved to Arizona from Ohio I tried to order Direct TV, but found out that the second one was opened and ran up. Now I am trying to fix that problem. It takes months to fix and raises tensions in the household. Know I have to pay out of pocket to protect my good name. This is definitely a crime, a silent crime which sneaks up on you and it is hard to place a 7 year freeze on your credit through the 3 major bureaus. I don't want to see how hard it will hit me next time. I have 2 kids that I am putting money away for there college in a 529 plan. I don't know if I will still be able to do that if I use up money to fix my name.
The time is past due for laws that effectively protect the personal information of Americans, make it easier for ID theft victims to reclaim their good name & credit, and make participation in ID theft a serious offense with severe consequences.
I am a victim of Identity Theft. Help enable Law Enforcement to help us and have better resources during such a trying and violating time!
My wife's purse was stolen with check books, credit card,DL, SS card! what a mess to fix--- wish we had signed up!
Congress, As a victim of ID theft it was devastating to find out that my identity was stolen and used. It has taken me over three years to get the issue clean up and I am still working with creditors on cleaning up. I have elected you to help safeguard me and every other American from this kind of issue. I am asking you now via this petition to act even stronger and harsh laws to protect us. IF you will not take the time now to nip this in the butt, we as Americans are going to be hurt beyond what we can image. I would hate to see a country that can and have the capability to protect her citizens fail to do so but of lack of action and understanding. Please protect us.
We pay taxes and elect officials partially to protect us from threats. When threats change from opressive dictators to terrorism and identity theft, it is the responsibility of the elected government to act on behalf of the people they represent and ensure we are protected. Keeping my children safe and ensuring they have the opportunities I had are how I vote.
In the last five (5) months, I have been burglarized twice. This last time, they took a spiral folder that contained all of my current monthly bills, including credit cards, plus a copy of my current month's bank statement. Since then they successfully changed my personal information on my Verizon Wireless account and ordered additional phone lines and cell phones. Luckily, Verizon contacted me to confirm my order, and it was straightened out. I feel EXTREMELY vulnerable now because they have all of my personal information, which has forced me to change bank accounts and credit accounts. It's like I have to be responsible for preventing the criminal from taking what belongs to me -- including my identity!!
Help protect the victims not the criminals
Come on Fix this Already.
It's embarrassing that the Congress has not addressed a crime surge of this magnitude. By no action being taken, that encourages the problem to grow. Be responsible for what you've been elected to do.
Todd Davis does what he said he wiil do ( thank you)
DEFEAT IDENTITY THEFT NOW!!!!!!!
There is no reason "not" to do this!
I have been a victim of Identity Theft ONCE pertaining to someone opening a credit card using my information and THREE TIMES when my new employer did a background check and low and behold THREE PEOPLE are using my SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER!!! Martin B. Sapila from Trenton New Jersey, Robert B. Murphy from Jackson, GA, and Madellena Armentano from Elizabeth NJ!!! THIS IS THE EASIEST AND MOST DESTRUCTIVE WAY TO IMPACT AN INNOCENT PERSON'S LIFE. Not only is my future employment on hold until I can PROVE this number is in fact mine, but my credit rating is possibly being effected and I have always sustained EXCELLENT CREDIT!!! OVER 760 since I was a teenager! Not enforcing stronger penalties is saying loud and clear that our government finds this issue unimportant, and our rights of privacy as legal working American citizens should not be protected. ABSURD! Laura C. Bell
make them pay
Pass legislation to stop identity theft now. I've worked my whole life to protect my name only to have it stolen by somone phishing on the internet.
Take some responsibility for the mess you've help create - make our financial system safe for those who pay your salaries
