In 2003, one out of four Americans experienced identity theft, according to Cheri Mook and Bea Feldman, of Identity Theft Shield.“Our purpose is to bring up public awareness of what is happening and to show you how to be proactive,” and avoid being a victim, Mook noted.ID theft is not just a credit card crime: only 42 percent of identity theft result from illegal credit card use.And, most people think that ID theft is something that only happens to other people but the crime is rampart necessitating reducing risk and being proactive in identity protection.Computers are being broken into and data lifted, seniors in adult care facilities are being targeted and the Internet are just a few examples. Even handing your credit card to wait person can lead to ID theft.Wire magazine ran an article titled “Stealing Your Soul” that pointed out that even a child’s Social Security number could be the target of theft. Terrorists are in the ID theft business, organized crime and drug dealers, among others.And, “if it does happen to you it can be daunting to handle yourself,” Mook noted.The collection of information has become a big business for many uses, and “now, when you swipe your card at Vons they know where you are and what you bought. . .”Mook said her company has a program that offers an ID theft shield through daily account monitoring, and “although identity theft can’t be prevented entirely,” such monitoring through early detection of illegal activity can lessen the impacts of the crime.
GMSP! electrifies with SCE representative, ID theft guardian
June 04, 2004
Santa Paula News
The state of the electrical power supply and the spreading incidents of identity theft were on the agenda for the May Good Morning Santa Paula!
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThe state of the electrical power supply and the spreading incidents of identity theft were on the agenda for the May Good Morning Santa Paula!The Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event was held at Logsdon’s at the Santa Paula Airport.Nancy Williams, regional manager for SCE, noted that the “good news is that the lights are still on” and rates are being stabilized, but when it comes to new electrical power generation, “we’re not quite there yet.”California is “still not quite out of the energy crisis mode” due to the lack of generation. “We are, quite frankly, behind the eight ball,” but alternate sources of energy are being utilized, including wind and solar power which accounts for 20 percent of present sourcing.The state’s aging distribution system will need major upgrading costing major dollars and “electricity is not a commodity you can store for a rainy day like water,” noted Williams.Rates did decline last summer and SCE has not had a major rate increase since 1995.Williams said that a new bill, AB 2006, is the “starting point” in sending the correct signal to Wall Street that California is “worth the investment in utilities. . .all the ideas being talked about daily are being rolled into this bill” to enact a clear energy policy in state law to prevent another energy crisis.But it’s up to the public to mirror their actions during the energy crisis and conserve energy as much as possible for both their own pocketbooks and state energy supplies in general.
