Rep. Tiberi Asks, "Is Your Personal Information Safe?"

Email from Rep. Pat Tiberi:

This week, the Ways and Means Committee passed an important bill to help protect all of us from the threat of identity theft. I am a proud member of this Committee and I hope when this bill is considered on the House Floor, my colleagues agree that it is necessary to help curb identity theft. The Social Security Number Privacy and Identity Theft Prevention Act would restrict the government’s use of Social Security numbers, expand enforcement of laws protecting the misuse of those numbers, and stiffen penalties for those found guilty of misusing Social Security numbers.

While the Federal Trade Commission estimates that about 9 million people are the victims of identity theft every year, many don’t realize their personal information has been stolen until a credit check is run. People across the country spend hours and hundreds of dollars of their hard earned money trying to clear their name. The threat of identity theft hit home for Ohioans when earlier this year the personal information for Ohio taxpayers stored on computer backup tapes were stolen from an intern’s car. While we don’t know if identities were stolen as a result of this theft, the tools a thief would need, information like Social Security numbers, were on those tapes. If this bill does become law, it would go a long way in helping to curb identity theft.

Identity theft is not only a problem for victims, it is a threat to the nation’s national security. If a citizen’s personal information was stolen and fell into the wrong hands, those wanting to do Americans harm could access it and mislead authorities. In the 21st Century our national security doesn’t just depend on military resources, but on technological security, as well.

While there are limits on what the government can do to protect our identities, it is necessary for individuals to take steps to help protect themselves, especially when they are online. The Federal Trade Commission has set up an online resource for quick, simple solutions to help prevent identity theft and protect your personal information online. For more information, visit [Link].

With all the antics going on with the DataGate story, all the protection we can get here in Ohio is worth a shot...