Have you been a victim of identity theft?  Have you or your business been a victim of check or credit card fraud?  The U. S. Federal Trade Commission is asking for input from around the world.  You can act now to help stop unlawful activity that threatens consumer confidence in conducting electronic commerce.  This guide provides ways you can get involved to stop unlawful operations that can ruin your business and your life.

Consumers reported fraud losses totaling more than $1.1 billion in 2006!  Whether or not you are an eBay buyer or seller, you may have been a victim of identity theft, credit card fraud, check writing fraud, wire transfer fraud, bank fraud, or phone fraud.  If you have been a victim, or you know someone who has been a victim, taking these actions will expose criminal activities to more than 1,600 law enforcement agencies that have access to the secure Federal Trade Commission (FTC) fraud database.

The FTC issued its annual report in February 2007, "Consumer Fraud and Identity Theft Complaint Data" that ranks the categories of fraud complaints consumers have filed between January 1 and December 31, 2006.  Identity theft tops the list with an alarming 36% of the complaints received, followed by shop-at-home/catalog sales, prizes/sweepstakes and lotteries, internet services and computer complaints, and internet auctions. 

Here are ways you can get involved to help prevent everyone from becoming fraud victims:

1. report fraud to The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) - an alliance between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National White Collar Crime Center; their website has current information about internet scams, fraud, and crime trends
2. report suspicious or unlawful activities to the FTC by phone at 1-877-FTC-HELP
3. report suspicious or unlawful activities to the FTC using the online complaint form at the FTC web site
4. participate in Proof Positive:  New Directions for ID Authentication, a two-day public workshop in Washington DC, April 23-24, to explore processes in preventing identity theft and fraud; be a panelist or submit written comments if you cannot attend; for more information about this workshop, visit the Federal Trade Commission web site

The workshop will provide a forum for discussion among the public sector, private sector, and consumer representatives.  The events are open to the public, are free of charge, and no pre-registration is required.  If you have expertise in or knowledge of processes to enhance ID authentication, you can submit a request by March 9th to participate as a panelist at the workshop.  Interested parties who cannot attend can submit written comments by March 23rd with any useful information supported by studies, surveys, research, and empirical data.  Below are some of the issues and topics the FTC invites you to comment on from your business and personal experiences:

ESTABLISHING IDENTITY - UNDERSTANDING VERIFICATION PROCESSES

• In what ways can identities be established?  How can individuals prove their identities when establishing them in the first instance?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of relying on traditional identification documentation or credentials such as birth certificates, Social Security cards, driver's licenses, and passports?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of new or emerging tools for establishing identity?  Examples may include consumer information databases, fraud detection software, or behaviors that may signal the use of a false identity?
• What roles should the public or private sector have in establishing identification credentials? 

CONFIRMING THE ESTABLISHED IDENTITY

• What are some current or emerging authentication technologies or methods used to confirm identities, i.e. biometrics, public key infrastructure, knowledge-based authentication?
• Please comment on the concept of multifactor authentication and how it is being or should be applied.
• To what extent are consumer information databases being used to authenticate individuals?  One example would be knowledge-based tools which generate questions with answers that only the consumer would know.
• To what extent do methods rely on readily-available identification information such as Social Security numbers and how might such reliance affect the risk of identity theft?
• To what extent do these technologies meet consumer needs such as ease of use?  To what extent do these raise privacy issues? 

COMPARING VERIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION SYSTEMS

• What are the merits of a centralized identification system where a single or a limited number of organizations identify all individuals and issue credentials that other entities can rely upon for verification?  In considering different systems, please comment on what degree there will be consumer acceptance, whether consumer education will facilitate acceptance, and any privacy concerns.
• How might better systems or processes for proving claims of identity generate other consumer benefits, i.e. providing access to various commercial or government services?
• How are other countries addressing verification and authentication issues, particularly as it relates to identity theft?  What lessons can be learned?
• As technologies converge to allow consumers new ways to conduct financial transactions, how can effective processes be incorporated to ensure consumers receive the intended benefits without exposing them to new vulnerabilities?