Measures to take to protect your identity
10 p.m. Thursday, May 15, 2008
This video requires the free QuickTime plug-in.
Even when he buys a cup of coffee, Gary Jordan is hesitant to hand over his credit card.
In fact, he's afraid to use his cards on the internet and watches who's around him at the ATM.
It's all because of his experience with identity theft.
“We went through a whole lot,” he said.
Eight years ago, his wife's purse was stolen. The thieves were caught more than 1,200 miles away by a state trooper in New York City.
“By the time we got it all stopped and everything, they had quite a bit of a bill against us,” he said.
Help put the law in favor of all Kansans
If you want to see the Kansas security freeze law changed, call your legislator and tell them how important it is to be protected from identity theft.
Find your legislator and see a complete roster for the House and Senate.
Their good name and good credit was ruined in a matter of minutes.
“Our credit report went from over 700 down to as low as it could possibly go,” he said.
Jordan said it took years for him and his wife to get back on track.
Now, he's cautious of anyone, anywhere.
He even has a security freeze on his credit report that was free courtesy of his bank.
“By freezing your account, what you're doing is blocking information so that potential crooks can't access your credit information and open up that account,” said Maren Turner, Senior Director with AARP.
Turner explained to me that some people can freeze their accounts for free. But it isn't an option for everyone.
That's because Kansas is one of four states that says you can't freeze your credit unless you've already been a victim of identity theft.
Jordan said that defeats the purpose of prevention and puts more Kansans in situations to suffer like he did.
“You shouldn't have to be a victim to be covered,” Jordan said. “No, I think that's wrong.”
You can put a freeze on your account if you're not a victim, but it'll cost you.
Kansas has no say in what you're charged.
Shred-A-Thon
We want to help protect your identity. 49 News is holding our second annual Shred-A-Thon Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Fairlawn Plaza parking lot at 21st & Fairlawn.
Bring old documents with your personal information like bank statements and we'll shred them for free.
Those decisions are left up to the three credit reporting agencies who offer the service voluntarily to non-identity theft victims.
You have to pay $10 to each of the three credit reporting agencies and send each agency multiple documents.
It even costs another $10 to temporarily lift or remove the freeze.
“Kansans are really at the mercy of the whims of these credit reporting agencies and we think that Kansans deserve better than that,” Turner said.
That's why she and AARP aren't waiting for lawmakers to protect you. They're working to change the law.
Under Senate Bill 644 anyone could freeze their credit.
It would lower fees to $5, make it free to temporarily lift a freeze and make the process easier.
But with coal legislation dominating state government, the bill never made it out of committee.
We went to the state's top cop to find out why the law isn't already a guaranteed protection for everyone.
Identity Theft Tips
“That bill was before my time and I don't know all the analysis that went in to it so I can't help you with that,” said Kansas Attorney General Stephen Six.
Six says he and lawmakers will look at making changes to better protect Kansans from identity theft during the legislative session next year.
Until then, it's up to you to be vigilant to protect yourself. Watch what you do on the internet and shred documents.
“Those seem to be the most two common ways people are affected by identity theft,” Six said.
What you need to know
A comprehensive overview of identity theft and tips to help you protect yourself are available here.
Unfortunately, Jordan had to learn his lesson on identity theft the hard way.
He says everyone's at risk when they least expect it, just like him.
“It's out there,” he said. “It's very easy.”
“People who steal your identity are scum and don't be mistaken, they are crooks,” said Turner.
Comments
Note: ktka.com does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor vouch for the factual claims made therein. Nor do we review every post.
May. 15, 2008 at 11:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)iknowitall (anonymous)
I do not believe ignorance of the law is a defense when the "top cop" does not know the laws of Kansas. Maybe the person who appointed him did it as a personal favor instead of getting a qualified person. Could that be possible?
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)