ID Sure Helps Businesses Meet August 1st Deadline to Fight Identity Theft
Apollo Beach, FL (July 17, 2009) - Identity theft related fraud is on the rise, with The
Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) reporting nearly a 50% increase in data breaches
from 2007 to 2008 resulting in millions of consumers records being compromised.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported approximately 10 million cases of ID
Fraud in 2008 - a staggering 4.4% of the population. ID Fraud involves more than a few
unauthorized credit card purchases. Eighty five percent of victims report more than one
incident of fraud once their identity has been compromised.
Because of the enormous impact of identity theft on consumers and businesses, the FTC is
requiring financial institutions and creditors to implement a program referred to as the Red
Flags Rule-to detect, prevent, and mitigate instances of identity theft. To be in compliance
businesses such as accounting firms, law firms, mortgage brokers, title companies, doctors
and others have until August 1st, 2009 to implement their written Red Flags Program.
Florida ranks as the third most likely place to have your identity stolen. In 2008, victims
spent an average of $739 and a hefty 58 hours of their time to rectify just one instance of
fraud. In addition to the pain of negative credit reports and collection agency calls, one in
five victims will never gets their money back.
The following statistics have been compiled through studies by Synovate, Gartner Research
and Harris Interactive:
 13% of ID Fraudsters were able to obtain a legitimate drivers license
 18% were able to either create or buy a counterfeit drivers license
 5.3% managed to either file taxes or receive another person’s tax refund
 3.5% obtained government assistance or benefits such as unemployment or welfare
 9% successfully moved into new apartments or other accommodation
 17% opened up accounts using their fraudulent ID
 43% of victims were contacted by companies following accounts being opened in
the victims’ names
Consumers are not the only victims of this crime. In 2008 the average loss to each business
in goods and services was $90,107 for each instance of fraud perpetrated through them.
One Florida based company in Apollo Beach is leading the way in the fight against ID
Fraud. They are expertly assisting law firms, accounting practices, and other businesses in
developing their Identity Theft Prevention Programs, and assisting companies as they
become compliant with the NCUA and FTC Red Flags Rule. ID Sure, LLC
(www.idsure.org) has brought together individuals with law enforcement backgrounds and
those with expertise in the area of Internet related crime to meet this critical need in ID
Fraud prevention.

“The current economic climate has only exacerbated what was already a growing problem.
The impact on victims is more pronounced as people try to be more disciplined about their
spending” explains Shawn Walsh of ID Sure.
“It will always be difficult to prevent ID theft from taking place. The manner in which
identities are compromised is so varied. It can be a case of internet phishing or a less than
discrete cell phone conversation” says Walsh. “The Red Flags Rule is a common sense
approach to a widespread problem. The single point of failure in all ID fraud is the failure
of Financial Institutions and Creditors to check that the ID is legitimate and truly belongs to
that person.”
ID Sure suggests that seeing a photo on a driver’s license is not evidence of a person’s true
identity. Statistics indicate the 31% of ID thieves have a photo driver's license that
passes scrutiny; therefore, it is necessary to go beyond the presented ID. What kind of
information would only the real person know? Such challenge questions are a fundamental
tool in identity verification today.
ID Sure has developed a system which enables companies to conduct such queries quickly,
inexpensively and efficiently. Identity verification is ethical and good for consumers.
ID Sure stands ready to assist law firms, CPA’s, and other companies who choose to
comply with the valuable and prudent Red Flags Rule. The August 1, 2009 deadline for
compliance looms close for those companies who have yet to establish an Identity Theft
Prevention Program. Avoid costly penalties by allowing ID Sure to assist you in
developing a program to protect yours and your clients’ assets.
For more information, please visit www.idsure.org or call (813) 384-2300.
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