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Why all the fuss about identity theft?
Maybe a naive rant, but this is something I've wondered about for awhile...
So I read this morning that LexisNexis allowed the theft of personal information on 310,000 U.S. citizens; opening another door to identity thefts. When I hear of identity theft, I question why the individual must take any action at all. The victims, or entities suffering losses, are those who sloppily disburse money to those with fake identities.
These tips from Clark Howard's consumer website:
If you're a victim of identity theft, get a police report from your local police department, ask each of the three credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit report, and fill out affidavits of fraud with each company that issued credit in your name. Keep these documents forever.
The fraud alert and review of the three credit bureaus make sense. I do the review once a year after a mistaken Discover card appeared on my Experian report. My experience is that when I challenge an account and the lender cant show a proof of claim, the account is removed. End of story.
However, Howard recommends in his radio show to carry the police report around with you always in the event you're arrested. For check fraud, IIRC. That's a little much.
"Victim" implies loss or harm. You are only responsible for debts you legally contracted, not those made illegally in your name.
My question is, why is the burden of proof on the individual, and not the lenders?
__________________
Bob S.
'87 911 ("Hardtop" per neighbor)
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