Defend Your Dollars is the website of the Consumers Union Financial Services Campaign, where we support reforms to the financial marketplace to curb bad practices by banks and lenders.
Security Breaches
Individuals need to know when there is a breach to the security of their sensitive personal information such as a Social Security number, government identification number, payment card information, or account number which provides access to finances or to financial information. With notice consumers can take the necessary steps to prevent or detect identity theft. Consumers Union supports laws that require consumers be notified of a breach when it occurs. This requirement creates incentive for both companies and government agencies to work to prevent future security breaches.
Policy and Legislation
- Support for the Personal Data Privacy and Security Act of 2009 (November 3, 2009)
- Fact Sheet about ID Theft (January 4, 2009)
- CU's guide to security freeze protection (June 13, 2008)
- State laws restricting private use of Social Security numbers (November 28, 2007)
- States with Notice of Security Breach Laws (February 9, 2005)
- Summary of Social Security Number Privacy Legislation (September 6, 2007)
- Consumers Union letter on S. 495 (April 24, 2007)
- Consumers Union letter on S. 1178 (April 24, 2007)
- Fact Sheet about ID Theft (April 11, 2007)
- Consumers Union Supports S. 495 (March 11, 2007)
- Consumer groups support measure to require notice of security breaches (February 8, 2007)
- Consumers Union's Guide to State Security Freeze Laws (January 11, 2007)
- Consumer groups recommend more action to President's Identity Theft Task Force (September 26, 2006)
- Consumer Groups Oppose Move to Pass Weak Data Security Bill (July 21, 2006)
- Groups comment to Subcommittee on Health on HR 4157 (June 7, 2006)
- Letter to the House supporting data security (March 28, 2006)
- DATA bill will not effectively help deal with the very real threat of ID theft (November 16, 2005)
- Oversight Hearing on Data Security, Data Breach Notices, Privacy and Identity Theft (September 21, 2005)
- click here.]]>">State security freeze bills (June 14, 2005)
- Click here for the letter. ]]>">CU calls on Congress to enact strong identity theft safeguards (May 9, 2005)
- Washington Post article]]>">Article Highlights Need for ID Theft Protections (April 5, 2005)
- California Identity Theft and Privacy Laws (October 22, 2003)
Consumers Union News Releases
- Alaska governor signs strong new ID theft law (June 13, 2008)
- CU says Social Security numbers need protection (December 11, 2007)
- FTC: 8.3 million identity theft victims in U.S. (November 27, 2007)
- TransUnion offering security freeze nationwide (September 19, 2007)
- CU praises Senate Identity theft legislation (May 3, 2007)
- House bill provides key protections against identity theft (March 29, 2006)
- House panel votes to gut existing state identity theft laws (March 16, 2006)
- Proposed AZ identity theft safeguard too costly for consumers (March 10, 2006)
- Record penalty: A wake-up call for tougher ID theft protections? (January 26, 2006)
- House Subcommittee Fails to Maintain Strong Protections for Many Consumers (November 3, 2005)
- House panel guts security breach notice provision to curtail ID theft (November 3, 2005)
- NJ Governor signs ID theft protections into law (September 22, 2005)
- Connecticut Governor signs identity theft bill into law (June 24, 2005)
- Read CU's testimony.]]>">10 million Americans at risk of ID theft from data security breaches (June 24, 2005)
- Illinois Governor signs identity theft protections into law (June 23, 2005)
- Senate Committee to Consider ID Theft Issues at April 13 Hearing (April 11, 2005)
- Bank of America computer tape loss puts 1.2 million at risk of ID theft (February 25, 2005)
- Stronger ID theft protections urged in wake of ChoicePoint Fraud (February 17, 2005)
Research and Reports
- Consumer groups urge FTC to support low cost, easy to use security freeze (February 25, 2008)
- Chronology of Security Breaches (December 4, 2007)
- Key Issues on Financial Privacy and Identity Theft in Congress (December 4, 2007)
- CR Poll: Americans want identity theft protections (September 6, 2007)
- CU urges federal policymakers to restrict the use of Social Security numbers (September 5, 2007)
- Congress considers new ID theft protection (July 18, 2007)
- Another week, another identity theft scandal (May 25, 2007)
- President's ID Theft Task Force's Plan Falls Short (April 23, 2007)
- President's ID Theft Task Force's Plan Falls Short (April 23, 2007)
- TJX data security breach puts millions at risk (March 29, 2007)
- CardSystems' security breach shows need for stronger safeguards (March 2, 2007)
- Consumer Groups Support HR 958 to Require Notice of Security Breaches (February 8, 2007)
- Illinois, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin can use a security freeze to thwart identity thieves. Victims of identity theft in Hawaii and Kansas also got that right in the new year.]]>">More consumers can freeze credit files as of January 1, 2007 (January 29, 2007)
- Reviewing Your Credit Report (October 29, 2006)
- Real People, Real Stories (October 20, 2006)
- World Privacy Forum's Top Ten Opt Outs (August 2, 2005)
- More states giving consumers power to freeze credit files (June 30, 2005)
- President's ID Theft Task Force's Plan Falls Short (May 25, 2005)
- Take action. ]]>">Lexis-Nexis security breach puts more consumers at risk of ID theft (March 9, 2005)
- Read Letter to Senators]]>">Bankruptcy Bill Provision Guts Conflict of Interest Protection (March 7, 2005)
- The Federal Trade Commission's Resource Center on Identity Theft (September 2, 2003)
- Identity Theft Resource Center (September 2, 2003)
- Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (February 19, 2003)
- Privacy Journal (January 1, 2003)
- Chronology of Security Breaches (May 25, 2001)
- Chronology of Security Breaches (May 25, 2001)
- On-line banking policies and principles (October 1, 1999)
Consumer Tips
- CU's guide to security freeze protection (June 13, 2008)
- Stop phishing (March 13, 2008)
- Costly credit-monitoring services offer limited fraud protection (October 26, 2007)
- State Security Freeze Laws (December 4, 2006)
- 39 states lets consumers freeze credit files (July 16, 2007)
- Tips From Consumers Union (November 1, 2006)
- 26.5 million veterans at risk for identity theft (May 24, 2006)
- Consumer tips related to the ChoicePoint story (February 21, 2005)
Blog Posts
- ID Theft Alert: Digital Copiers (April 20, 2010)
- Who should decide if you get notice of a security breach? (July 5, 2007)
- Would you like that burger without the credit card fraud? (March 12, 2007)
- Those Sensitive Numbers (February 8, 2007)
- Hunting for Hackers and Thieves (November 7, 2006)
WHAT'S HOT
- Tips: CU's guide to security freeze protection
- Press Release: CR investigation reveals government among biggest sources of ID leaks
- Factsheet: Fact Sheet about ID Theft
Tell Us Your Story!
If you have been a victim of identity theft, your story can help us as we work to enact stronger safeguards to protect consumers. Please share your story.
We want to hear from you. Your willingness to share your stories helps us pass laws to protect you and your family.How to complain to the Government
Online, by mail, phone or fax... Agencies need to hear from you!
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Defend Your Dollars is the website of the Consumers Union Financial Services Campaign, where we support reforms to the financial marketplace to curb bad practices by banks and lenders.
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