ID Theft ID’s?
One thing victims of identity theft may not want to see again in their lives is a photo ID since the theft of theirs may have led to weeks, months or even years of frustration. However, some victims are actually getting an additional ID that is designed to help them avoid future hassles when trying to obtain credit. And, more importantly, it can help them avoid being arrested for crimes they didn’t commit.
This new form of identification is the ID Theft Passport, which is currently available in 10 states, but is growing. This ID, which looks very much like a driver’s license, can be presented to both creditors and law enforcement. The idea is that people with the Passport can use it to prove they are innocent of acts that other people perpetrated in their names.
Without such an ID, many identity theft victims have ended up in jail, gotten their vehicles repossessed and the like. People that are assigned to arrest, repossess, etc., have no way to know that they are going after the wrong person. All they have is a name and an address on a piece of paper.
Of course, not everyone can get one of these identity theft passports. People who want one have to prove that they were victimized. Good ways to do this are with a valid police report or court documentation.
One thing this ID can’t do is prevent recipients from being victimized again in the future. It still requires some work on their part. Since they’ve already been targeted by thieves, chances are they’ve become more diligent about checking their credit reports. However, they still may not be as careful as they should be about managing their information in print or online. They may need to make some major changes in these areas as well.
Also, they have to know to protect their new ID card just as they do any others. There’s nothing to stop a “real†criminal from taking an identity theft passport and using it to “prove†that he or she is not the culprit in a crime when he or she actually is. It’s smart to leave the card at in a secure area at home or in a safe deposit box when it is not needed.
It’s also smart for former victims to get identity theft protection from a leading company. If they get victimized again while under the care of a plan, they may be able to get some help with their expenses, including lost wages and legal fees. They will also get notification if thieves access their information and put it up for sale or trade and hopefully be able to minimize the damage they can do. If the same thief, or an associate of that thief, tries to defraud them again, they can let law enforcement know right away giving, them a better chance of capturing a culprit who had been elusive up to that point.
While it’s always better to get identity protection before you need it, it’s certainly a good idea to get some when you’re sure you do.