ID Theft

Regarding your July 28 editorial, “A Troublesome Number”: As one who has had his identity stolen, I can tell you that the solution is a multifaceted one that requires more interest by law enforcement and corporate America than exists today. In my case, my identity was stolen to get a telephone line. Although I was able to correct the billing (no small chore, I must tell you) I still couldn’t get anyone to make these people stop using my name or pay for their crime. I went to the police requesting that they act under the laws governing fraud (perpetrated upon the phone company). They refused to act. I contacted the phone company, informing them that these people still lived at the address listed and requested they take legal action under the statute of frauds. They wouldn’t even answer my letter.

ID theft may need laws to cover it. But use of the ID is fraud upon whomever they target. When we cannot get the police to enforce current laws or get corporations to act in their own best interests while protecting their customers at the same time, the issue changes from having laws to the willingness to enforce them. It’s OK to pass new laws for ID theft per se, but you can prosecute these people now for fraud. What is needed is action.

TIM MESSER

Los Angeles