Congresswomen Bean to Host Forum on I.D Theft on Saturday

Our local Congresswoman Melissa Bean will be joined by a group of experts on the issue of identity theft at a forum she is hosting Saturday, October 29 at the Round Lake Village Hall (see map) at 2:00pm.

Bean organized the forum, which will include a panel of experts with experience in different aspects of the issue, to offer constituents an opportunity to learn about how identity theft occurs and what measures they can take to protect themselves.

"Many people who are financially responsible, live within their means and pay their bills on time may not be aware of the threat that identity theft poses to their financial well-being," Bean said, "While I am working in Washington on legislation to prevent this crime, there are some steps that people can take on their own to protect themselves. I am grateful that these experts will offer my constituents their diverse, valuable perspectives on the threat of identity theft and how to protect against it."

Bean, a member of the House Committee on Financial Services, has tackled ID theft head-on during her first term. She has proposed legislation to protect consumers' personal financial information and let them know if it's been compromised.

One of Bean's bills, the Consumer Data Security and Notification Act, would strengthen federal protections against the collection and sale of personal financial information, and require that companies notify consumers when that information is at risk.

Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in America, costing victims about $5 billion each year. Illinois ranks tenth in the nation in ID theft. The number of cases in the state continues to grow, reaching an alarming 11,000 victims last year alone. The ID Theft Forums are designed to provide the information individuals need to arm themselves against identity thieves.