Monday, November 19, 2018

Identity Theft Prevention: How to Catch a Thief


Chairman & Managing Director

Here are four scenarios involving identity theft that mortgage originators encounter from time to time. Read them and then keep them in mind as I discuss how to ask for additional information in order to prevent identity theft.
1.       A law enforcement report containing detailed information about the identity theft and the signature, badge number, or other identification information of the individual law enforcement official taking the report should be sufficient on face value to support a victim’s request.
Question: Without an identifiable concern, such as an indication that the report was fraudulent, would it be reasonable for an information furnisher or Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) to request additional information or documentation?
Answer: It would not be reasonable.
2.       A consumer might provide a law enforcement report similar to the above report, but certain important information such as the consumer’s date of birth or Social Security number may be missing because the consumer chose not to provide it.
Question: The information furnisher or CRA could accept this report, but would it be reasonable to require that the consumer provide the missing information?
Answer: It would be reasonable.
3.       A consumer might provide a law enforcement report generated by an automated system with a simple allegation that an identity theft occurred to support a request for a tradeline block or cessation of information furnishing.
Question: Would it be reasonable for an information furnisher or CRA to ask that the consumer fill out and have notarized the Commission’s ID Theft Affidavit or a similar form and provide some form of identification documentation?
Answer: It would be reasonable.
4.       A consumer might provide a law enforcement report generated by an automated system with a simple allegation that an identity theft occurred to support a request for an extended fraud alert.
Question: Would it be reasonable for a consumer reporting agency to require additional documentation or information, such as a notarized affidavit?
Answer: It would not be reasonable.
In these scenarios, a financial institution should be responsive in accordance with certain guidelines. Specificity of action must be appropriate, reasonable and proportional to the challenge. However, total reliance on the CRA is inappropriate.