FRAUD IN THE BADGER STATE
Individual and corporate victims of identity theft crimes, as well as the businesses that can help protect the information that make the crimes possible, are trading ideas in Wisconsin’s state capital to help combat identity theft.
According to a report in the Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, the Professional Insurance Agents of Wisconsin is one trade group that has provided input to legislators and regulators in the state as they prepare to address the growing problem of identity theft.
A comprehensive report on identity theft prepared by the Federal Trade Commission shows that incidents of identity theft in Wisconsin rose by 31 percent in 2003, when more than 2,300 incidents were reported, up from fewer than 1,800 in 2002.
Wisconsin is among the states that may soon enact measures to encourage or to mandate the shredding of documents that businesses, government agencies and institutions prior to their disposal.
AMEX OFFERS ID THEFT HELP
Realizing the importance of identity theft prevention to its bottom line, American Express, New York, is offering its credit card holders access to a 24-hour toll-free hotline where they can report suspected identity theft and fraud.
The Identity Theft Assistance service is available to card holders at no extra cost and is designed to help credit card holders "safeguard their personal information, determine if their identity has been stolen and, if so, provide assistance in helping regain it," American Express says.
Additionally, for slightly less than $6 per month, Identity Protection from American Express provides coverage up to $15,000 (after a $100 deductible) to cover the costs for correcting identity theft and access to identity theft counselors.
The $15,000 amount can include up to $5,000 for attorney’s fees and court costs, up to $2,000 for lost wages resulting from efforts to restore accurate personal records, up to $2,500 for fraudulent withdrawals from financial or credit accounts and miscellaneous fees, including notary services, long-distance calls, postage and document copying.
ID Thief Nabbed in Virginia
FBI agents have arrested a 26-year-old Virginia Beach man on federal charges that he stole the identities of two people, using their personal credit information to fraudulently obtain more than $85,000, according to a Norfolk television station.
According to the police report, Gregory E. Leviness allegedly used the information he obtained to get loans and credit lines from various financial institutions and credit card companies in late 2002 and into 2003.
He now faces charges of wire fraud, bank fraud and the unlawful use of another’s identity to commit fraud.
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