Robert Siciliano is a NextAdvisor.com Expert Guest Blogger
In a word, no. A national identity card alone will not prevent all forms of identity theft. For a new account fraud to be entirely preventable, a number of other factors have to come into play, to effectively determine accountability through identity proofing. Effective proofing of identity is also required to prevent reliably the medical and criminal identity theft.
As you guessed, proofing identity simply means prove that individuals are who they say they are. Identity proofing often begins with personal matters, such as the name of a first grade teacher or the make and model of a first vehicle, that only the real person would be able to answer. Of course, this technique is not foolproof, and now that personal information is so easily available on the internet, authentication based on knowledge is probably extinct. The next step is documentation such as a copy of a utility bill or mortgage statement. These types of identification documents can be retrieved in the trash, but they are most effective when combined with evidence of personal questions. biometric characteristics such as finger prints or iris, can help further authenticate the identity of an individual.
notation Identity is another method of checking the actual identity. An identity score is a system of marking and verification of the legitimacy of the public identity of an individual. Identity scores are used to prevent fraud in business and to check and correct the public record. Identity scores include a wide range of consumer data, including items such as personal identifiers, public and government records, data on the Internet, corporate data, predicting behaviors based on empirical data, self-assessed behavior and credit records.
USA Today reports that in the four years since Congress passed the Real ID Act, which aimed to make it more difficult to obtain a driver's license fraud, the act languished because of opposition from several states. Real ID supporters say it will not only deter terrorism, but also reduce identity theft, curb illegal immigration and reduce underage drinking, while the identification of choosing the safest nation. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano proposes the repeal of the Real ID Act.
The Real ID Act contains many provisions which are forms of identity proofing and the potential of biometrics across the board. When Indiana checked its pilots of six million against a Social Security database, it ended up invalidating 19,000 licenses that do not match. When Indiana began using the technology "facial recognition" to secure his photos, the State caught a man who had 149 licenses with the same picture but different names.
Is Napolitano move forward or backward? Do your research and decide for yourself.
Protect yourself against identity theft. Prevent new account fraud by obtaining a credit freeze. Go to ConsumersUnion.org and follow the steps for your particular state. This is an absolutely necessary tool to secure your credit. In most cases, it prevents new accounts from being opened in your name. And invest in identity theft protection. All forms of protection against identity theft can be prevented, but identity theft protection services can dramatically reduce your risk.
The speaker Identity Theft Robert Siciliano discussed identity theft on Fox News.
Robert Siciliano is CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com, an expert on identity theft, professional speaker, security analyst, published author and television news correspondent. Siciliano works with Fortune 1000 and start-up companies as a consultant on product launches, branding, messaging, representation, SEO and media. the thoughts and advice of Siciliano on all these issues often appear in both television and print media news, including CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, FOX, Forbes and USA Today. He has 25 years of safety training as a member of the American Society for Industrial Security. He is the author of two books, including The Safety Minute: Living on high alert; How to take control of your personal safety and to prevent fraud . He also established a partnership with Uni-Ball to help raise awareness of the growing threat of identity theft and provide tips on how you can protect yourself.