America is burning off a billion dollars each year to id theft, in accordance with the Australian government, and nearly 90 percent of Americans are reported to be concerned with having their identity stolen.
With identity theft reputed to get the fastest growing crime globally, what is being carried out to protect Americans through the growing menace caused from identity fraudsters?
The National Identity Security Strategy (NISS) was created by the Australian Government in 2005. This Fake Ids aims to tackle identity crime committed with the use of fake identity documents, including passports and drivers’ licenses. Beefing the ability of Australian authorities to recognize fake identity documents lies at the heart from the strategy. Fake identity documents are used by fraudsters to steal benefits, such as Centrelink payments, and funds from your banks.
$28 million dollars has been pledged towards the roll from the National Document Verification Service, a key plank in the NISS. The service is going to be an online system for checking the authenticity of identity documents, and will also be accessible by government departments. It may also be presented to the private sector, which will help banks along with other companies verify the identities of consumers. The service will enable government officials to make certain documents presented were actually issued and also the details contained within options are accurate.
Biometrics, a way of employing the physical features of people to verify their identity, is increasingly being deployed by governments and private companies to combat identity theft.
Australia’s immigration service, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, is collecting biometric data on new migrants. It really is expected the collection of biometric particulars on ‘non citizens’ – including photos, fingerprints, and, iris scans – may help national and international efforts to tackle identity fraud. The physical information on new entrants are being stored on the DIAC database, referred to as Identity Services Repository.
Plans for any welfare services identity card system costing a lot more than $1billion dollars were scrapped after 2007 after the election of the Rudd Government. The Howard Government planned to provide every Australian a biometric smartcard, including photo and individual health and welfare number. It was considered by many people to be an identity card scheme in disguise. Reports suggested the smartcard scheme could have been ‘piggybacked’ by private companies, such as banks and finance institutions, as a means of tackling identity fraud.
The usage of voice authentication technology to tackle call centre identity fraud will be researched by boffins on the University Of Canberra. The university’s biometrics scientists are working on systems which may enable companies to ensure people making use of their voice patterns. This may avoid the need to send sensitive personal data abroad, reducing the potential risk of Aussies falling prey to identity fraudsters targeting call centres.
Tough new money laundering laws, which came into force at the end of 2007, will spot tighter identity checks on Australians when opening up new bank accounts, using casinos or purchasing travellers cheques. It is expected the Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Finance Act will help you to combat identity fraud around australia. Financial organisations need to meet the strict identity check requirements in the legislation by the end of 2008. This act brings Australia into line with other countries, including the UK wzczxl US, which may have strengthened their money laundering rules.
The publication of court judgments on the internet has led the NSW Supreme Court to change the way it writes judgments. Personal identifiers, including birthdates and addresses, which can be utilized to commit identity fraud will not be published in judgments.
Amongst the advice in the government’s id theft self help guide “ID theft kit” is the requirement for customers to regularly check their credit history to aid spot any fraudulent activity committed against them. A totally free credit history can be accessed each and every year by writing towards the credit reference agencies.