Helping victims of financial exploitation

Helping victims of financial exploitation


The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a bill to help victims of identity theft and senior citizens who’ve been cheated.

Senate Study Bill 3055 allows Iowa victims of identity theft originating out of state to qualify for the Attorney General’s Identity Theft Passport Program. The Iowa Attorney General will provide victims with a “passport” that can be used as proof to law enforcement and creditors that someone has stolen their identity.

This bill will also allow victims of identity theft and elderly victims of financial exploitation to be eligible for help from the Victim Compensation Fund. Victims can get reimbursed for expenses, such as traveling to and from the courthouse to attend trial or missing work because of criminal proceedings related to the case.

The financial exploitation of senior citizens and identity theft are growing problems. Here are some tips that all Iowans can use to protect themselves:

** Keep important forms of identification in a safe place. This includes driver’s license, Social Security card and Medicare ID card.

** Don’t carry credit cards, debit cards, checks or financial statements with you if you don’t need them.

** Destroy old financial statements and credit card offers.

** Safeguard your medical and health insurance records.

** Avoid e-mailing personal information.

** Don’t give out personal or medical information to anyone who calls or emails.

** Be wary of free offers of products.

To learn more, call 515-281-5926 or visit the Iowa Attorney General’s website at www.state.ia.us/government/ag/protecting_consumers.

Posted Feb. 2nd, 2012 at 8:00 pm by Senate Intern

Tags: identity theft, Senate Judiciary Committee

Please read complete article at link below:


http://www.senate.iowa.gov/democrats/helping-victims-of-financial-exploitation/#cf10_field_2

Editor's note: Does this bill also protect seniors from exploitation by the Probate Court system? Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com