Capitol Update by U.S. Rep Lloyd Doggett

If you’re like most Texans, throughout your week you may charge airline tickets, write a check at the store, send tax information through the mail, change cable service providers or apply for a credit card. While these simple transactions seem benign, to those looking to steal an identity, these are golden opportunities. According to the Consumer Federation of America, identity thieves strike approximately 10 million victims every year. They can do thousands of dollars in damage overnight, and the consequences in ruined credit ratings can take years to repair.

Congress is cracking down on identity thieves. The House Ways and Means Committee takes the issue of identity theft seriously. Ways and Means has jurisdiction over Social Security, including the use and abuse of Social Security Numbers (SSNs). Recently, the committee unanimously approved the Social Security Number Privacy and Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2007. This legislation bans local, state and federal governments from selling your Social Security Number to would-be identity thieves. It forbids prisons from employing inmates in jobs that provide access to SSNs. Banks and credit unions would be prohibited from displaying SSNs on checks. Furthermore, the bill imposes new criminal penalties of up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 to punish identity thieves.

Take Action to Protect Yourself. While there are many ways for an identity thief to get to your information, a few simple measures can help protect you or your family from identity theft. You can make your information more secure by placing passwords on your credit card, bank, and phone accounts. Do not give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or on the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or are positive you know who you are dealing with. Finally, keep a close eye on your mailbox and the trash can. Deposit your outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office, rather than in an unsecured mailbox. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox.

If you are planning to be away from home and cannot pick up your mail, call the U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777 to request a vacation hold. The Postal Service will hold your mail at your local post office until you can pick it up or are home to receive it. To thwart an identity thief who may pick through your trash or recycling bins to capture your personal information, tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, expired charge cards that you are discarding, and credit offers you get in the mail.

Readers who wish to write to Congressman Doggett about identity theft or any other federal issue can send a note by mail to 300 E. 8th Street, Suite 763, Austin 78701 or you can send e-mail to lloyd@mail.house.gov or through my website at www.house.gov/doggett.