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| Contact: Deborah Sturm Rausch 518.473.9472|518.474.2896 |
For Immediate Release: October 27, 2008 |
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NYS Consumer Protection Board Launches Initiatives During Identity Theft Awareness Week |
| Governor Paterson has proclaimed the week of Sunday, October 26 through Saturday, November 1, 2008, as Identity Theft Awareness Week in New York State, stating in his proclamation that “it is vital that all people – consumers, business owners and professionals – have a greater understanding and awareness of the predatory practices used by criminals who steal personal information… as increased knowledge helps individuals recognize and avoid potential threats and scams.”
With identity theft affecting some ten million consumers every year, the New York State Consumer Protection Board (CPB) is taking action during this commemorative week, launching one program a day to advance education about identity theft. “Identity theft is the most common consumer fraud complaint in the United States affecting nearly 20,000 New Yorkers every year,” said Mindy A. Bockstein, Chairperson and Executive Director of the CPB. “We are taking this opportunity, during Identity Theft Awareness Week, to inform consumers of prevention strategies, provide law enforcement with additional techniques to respond to victims of identity theft and to work with our sister Agencies on targeted approaches to assist some special populations.” Today, public service announcements (PSAs) featuring the New York Giants’ legendary wide receiver Amani Toomer begin to run on television and radio stations statewide, in cooperation with the New York State Broadcasters Association, and will continue through most of November. The CPB has teamed up with the 2007 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants to create this public service campaign to spotlight identity theft and provide prevention advice to consumers. The PSA can also be heard or viewed on both the New York Giants’ and the CPB’s websites at www.giants.com or www.nysconsumer.gov respectively. On Tuesday, the CPB joins with the New York State Police and the New York State Crime Victims Board (CVB) to present an identity theft workshop for law enforcement and victim service providers. Given the confidential nature of this workshop, it is closed to the public and media. New York State Police Superintendent Harry J. Corbitt said, "Awareness of the predatory capabilities and methods employed by identity thieves is essential to discourage attempts at stealing personal information. Prompt reporting to law enforcement and financial institutions can greatly mitigate or prevent financial damage." "Although New York State Law limits the awards which CVB itself can make, the issue of identity theft is a growing concern to the victim advocate community and all residents of New York State," said CVB Chairwoman Tina M. Stanford. "As the principal agency in New York whose primary job is to advocate for crime victims, it is important for the Crime Victims Board to participate in this workshop and in other activities to protect victims and potential victims of identity theft." On Wednesday, the CPB will post a bilingual podcast on its website (www.nysconsumer.gov) featuring identity theft tips to provide sight-impaired consumers with steps for mitigating the affects of identity theft. New York's National Federation of the Blind Affiliate President Carl Jacobsen said, “The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight. The real problem is the misunderstanding and lack of information that exists. If a blind person has proper training and opportunity, blindness can be reduced to a physical nuisance. I commend the Consumer Protection Board for its continued leadership in bringing vital information to blind individuals.” On Thursday, the CPB teams up with the New York State Office to Prevent Domestic Violence (OPDV), to introduce specialized information to assist victims of domestic violence on how to place a security freeze on their credit report to reduce the threat of identity theft or mitigate damages caused by identity theft. Pursuant to the new State law, domestic violence victims will be able to place and temporarily lift a security freeze without charge. To be eligible, victims must present an order of protection, a domestic incident report (DIR), a police report, or a signed affidavit from a service provider to the credit-reporting agencies. Further, credit reporting agencies are prohibited from sharing with any third party the basis for the requested freeze. Amy Barasch, Esq., OPDV’s Executive Director said, “Abusers can use their access to a partner’s identifying information to take actions that can wreak havoc on the victim’s financial well-being, including using credit cards for large purchases, applying for lines of credit or withdrawing funds from an account. This new law gives victims of domestic violence information about ways to help them stay safe, both physically and financially, and it is one more example of Governor Paterson’s commitment to helping victims of domestic violence in New York State. “ Roll-out of the provisions of the new identity theft law, signed by Governor Paterson in September, will begin in January 2009. On Friday, the CPB will highlight how key components of the law will affect New York’s business owners in a fact sheet that provides core privacy and security principles to encourage compliance with State and federal law regarding the collection, retention and dissemination of personal information. It affords businesses with strategies for avoiding identity theft and the potential liabilities associated with security breach. Under the new law, victims of identity theft will be able to seek assistance from the CPB’s Identity Theft Prevention and Mitigation Program. The program will help victims repair the damage that an identity thief has caused to their financial and credit history. The law also enhances aspects of the security freeze law – a 2006 law that gives consumers the choice to "freeze" or lock access to their credit file against anyone trying to open up a new account or to get new credit in their name – and extends important confidentiality protections to Social Security numbers used by public entities and employers, preventing the intentional communication of these identifiers to the public. Finally, the law will enable victims of identity theft to obtain restitution equal to the value of the time they spend fixing the damage of identity theft. The Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Resource Center estimates that it takes identity theft victims as much as 330 hours to fix the damage done by identity theft. Under the new law, and for the first time in New York State, these victims may be compensated for their lost time. The CPB has also created new tools to help consumers track the expenses related to the hours spent on repairing the damage done to their financial records and credit standing. “Identity theft is serious, especially when it happens to you,” said Bockstein “I urge consumers to take action and to protect themselves against identity thieves, especially during this economic crisis when we are concerned about our financial stability. Working together, we will take a bite out of this crime!” The CPB, established in 1970 by the New York State Legislature, is the State's top consumer watchdog and think tank. The CPB's core mission is to protect New Yorkers by publicizing unscrupulous and questionable business practices and product recalls; conducting investigations and hearings; enforcing the Do Not Call law; researching issues; developing legislation; creating consumer education programs and materials; responding to individual marketplace complaints by securing voluntary agreements; and, representing the interests of consumers before the Public Service Commission and other State and federal agencies. |
| To file a consumer complaint with the NYS Consumer Protection Board (CPB), call our toll-free hotline at 800-697-1220 or visit CPB’s website at www.nysconsumer.gov. In addition to the online complaint form, the website is home to important consumer safety information. To join the CPB’s Do Not Call Reminder list, send an e-mail to CPB's Do Not Call Reminder list |