The Identity Theft show missed the mark completely. By focusing on the bad brother the real issue was avoided. Identity theft is a misnomer created by corporations who are aided by a federal law called the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). A person's identity is intrinsic, it can't be stolen. What's getting stolen is money from large companies who are so anxious to make a profit they don’t take the time to learn who they’re about to do business with. The real crime is that these companies have convinced us, and apparently Dr. Phil, that their losses are our problem. Dr. Phil said, ten million Americans have their identities ripped off every year. How big does this problem have to become before we get smart enough to demand our legislators rewrite the laws to protect individual citizens instead of rich, powerful corporations?
Companies use technology to maximize their profits, but when thieves exploit companies' loose business practices, companies cry, "identity theft" to obscure their own weaknesses. Try calling a credit card company and asking a simple question unrelated to personal information, such as their address to mail a payment... They won’t give you the answer until you answer a litany of questions, all designed so you’ll feel good that they’re trying to protect your identity. But they apparently don’t try very hard to protect our identities when it counts, when a thief applies for a new credit card by submitting a simple form using someone else’s name.
Social security numbers, driver license numbers and other identifying data can never be secure because countless people have legitimate access to these data, including health care administrators, bank workers, and government employees. So instead of focusing on the impossible--trying to secure that which cannot be secured--we should be focusing on responsibility. Dr. Phil advocates personal responsibility – now it’s time to advocate corporate and government responsibility. When a thief uses someone else’s name to steal from a company, the company needs to accept responsibility for being swindled. I’m not suggesting we forgive the thieves, only that we make the companies go after the thieves, not the innocent, third parties who had nothing – absolutely nothing – to do with the theft.
Dr. Phil’s show started off showing how staff members left account statements on their desks or in the trash. This stunt is just one more example of blaming the victim. What needs to be shown is how easily a thief can convince a company to open an account in someone else’s name. Only then will this problem get fixed.
When a company or government agency errs in identifying someone, they should be responsible for their error. If a company incorrectly tells a credit bureau someone isn’t paying their bills on time, then the company who made the mistake needs to be held accountable for the harm they’ve caused. Only when they see a financial penalty for making mistakes that hurt innocent people will they take the time to carefully screen their potential customers. Government agencies also need to be held accountable when they act on incorrect information and harm innocent citizens.
When ten million of us are being victimized each year, we need powerful spokesmen like Dr. Phil to stand up and demand changes in the laws to protect the innocent and require those who make mistakes to accept responsibility for their mistakes.
(Original Air Date: 04/17) Having a stranger steal from you is bad enough, but what happens when your own flesh and blood does it? Ricky and Ray say their brother, Robin, has been stealing their identities for years. Robin has used his older sibling’s ID to open lines of credit, rent a mobile home, and he even attempted to buy a Harley! Worst of all, they say Robin used their names when he was arrested, causing warrants to be issued for them. The problem is so out of control that Ricky’s fiancée, Robyn, is worried about taking his last name after the wedding, for fear of being mistaken for Robin. The brothers want to confront their younger sibling but haven't been able to locate him. With Dr. Phil's help, the confrontation finally takes place. This is a showdown you don’t want to miss! Plus, identity theft can happen anywhere … even at your job. Dr. Phil wants to see just how easily this fraud occurs, so staff members do a little snooping around the Dr. Phil offices at night to see what personal information they can find. You won’t believe what they dig up! Share your thoughts, join the discussion.
