How big is the identity theft and fraud problem?
It is an immense and growing problem. An identity is stolen once every four seconds in the U.S., and one out of every 14 Americans falls prey to the crime.

What is the cost of this problem?
Identity theft and fraud is a major drain on the American economy, costing an estimated $25 billion in losses to victims each year. Victims of identity fraud also spend up to 500 hours recovering from this crime, and many end up with their credit and reputation ruined for years to come. Not only does identity fraud cost individuals and financial institutions billions of dollars, then, it also saps our economy of the time and energy people spend recovering.

How prevalent is identity fraud?
For most of us, identity fraud isn't a question of "if," but "when." According to the FTC, there are approximately 10 million reported cases of Identity Theft each year. Identity theft accounts for 37% of all consumer fraud and now tops the list of complaints filed with the FTC.

How is an identity stolen?
It happens all the time, in ordinary as well as unimaginable ways. Thieves can hack computers, steal a wallet, or trick unsuspecting people into providing their Social Security numbers. But any time this data has been given to someone for legitimate reasons (a job application or car loan, for example) that information may be stolen by an employee of that firm (internal breach) or by an outside source (external breach). Personal information is already easily accessible in a number of places; consequently, it is all but impossible to prevent your identity from ever being compromised.

How quickly after I sign up for service does my coverage begin?
Coverage begins as soon as your enrollment is completed. We will continue to monitor your identity and update your reports monthly as long as your subscription is active. If unknown suspicious activity is discovered, a Resolution Advocate will be in contact with you to discuss the suspicious activity and, if needed, start recovery services.

Should I report a lost or stolen wallet?
Yes. When you lose your personal information, your identity has been compromised. A fraud alert should be placed with the credit bureaus to help minimize the amount of damage that can be done by anyone who might fraudulently use your information.

What can you do to protect yourself?
The obvious solutions - shredding personal finance information, visiting only reputable websites, etc. - are not enough. Even credit monitoring, which is the heart of most identity fraud protection programs, does not fully protect consumers. As a result, more and more people are turning to programs that monitor their total identity.

How do these programs work?
With nearly 70% of identity thefts not being related to credit, credit monitoring alone isn't enough. Secure Identity Systems uses advanced technology to regularly monitor more than 1,000 databases to determine if an identity is being misused. For instance, it will review databases that list the openings of new utility accounts. If a subscriber's name appears on that database, and that person did not open a new account, it alerts us and the consumer that his or her identity has been compromised.

What is the recovery process like for most Americans?
Long, hard and grueling. Worst of all, according to the FTC, the average person spends 60-500 hours on recovery, and some 30% are still unsuccessful. That's why Secure Identity Systems has developed a program that helps our customers restore their identity*. First, Chartis, Inc. pays them up to $25,000 for any out-of-pocket expenses associated with pursuing identity recovery, including legal costs, lost wages, travel expenses, credit report purchases and more.  Second, a resolution advocate will work with you to perform all the necessary steps to fix your identity back to its pre-theft status. In complicated cases of identity theft, a Limited Power of Attorney form can be filled out to allow the Resolution Advocate to work on your case for you, calling all necessary creditors and agencies to repair your identity.

*Expense Plan underwritten by Chartis, Inc. The description herein is a summary only. It does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Coverage not available to residents of New York and may not be available in other jurisdictions.

What is on the horizon as far as identity fraud protection?
There is a new generation of products coming that will make it much harder on identity thieves. The recently launched Secure Authentication and Fraud Reduction (SAFR) system uses the GPS chip within a wireless telephone to match the point of sale with the location of the phone. In other words, if a consumer lives in New York but his credit card is used in Los Angeles, this technology will determine whether that consumer's wireless phone is in Los Angeles. If it's not, chances are that someone has stolen his credit card or his identity.

What is considered an ID theft?
Secure Identity Systems abides by the federal definition of ID theft, which is anything that involves the unauthorized use of a person's personal information. It does not matter how the information was obtained, whether through a stolen wallet, a search through trash, files from a school or place of business, computer hacking, etc. The results may be the misuse of an existing credit, bank account or Social Security number; the creation of a new account; checking account fraud; misdemeanor and felony crimes; etc. Unlike some other providers, Secure Identity Systems will provide benefits even if the perpetrator of the identity theft is a member of the victim's family.

What is the screening process for the personal advocates?
Thorough criminal background and credit screening is performed on all advocates, as well as employment references.

Is there an average time in which an Advocate would contact the customer?
Calls are initiated/answered within 1 business day.

If I become a victim, will I have to file a police report?
Yes. Although resolution services will be offered to compromised identities or identity theft victims, for fully managed resolution services that require a Limited Power of Attorney form, the victim must file a police report and sign the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Affidavit.

What if the police won't take a report?
Some police departments may be reluctant to write a report on a crime of this kind. Regardless, victims should insist that the police take a report. We provide you with the necessary documentation for filing a report. Also, if local law enforcement won't take the report, the Attorney General's office for each state will.

If I become a victim, will I need a lawyer?
Possibly, but it's unlikely. Some identity theft victims do require services that can only be performed by an attorney. Such services normally involve going to court to remove liens placed due to fraud and/or criminal warrants resulting from the stolen identity.

Are services only available in the US? What about military - if they are overseas how would this work?
Military personnel serving overseas are covered to the degree that the financial impact is covered under U.S. law. For example, if the theft occurs while the service member is out of the country, but it is related to his U.S. banking relationships, then it is within our ability to solve. We are not able to guarantee that we can fix a problem in another country, e.g. a Swiss bank account, as we have no relationship with law enforcement outside the U.S.

As far as military personnel are concerned, even though they are out of the country, they are still covered for both the recovery and the Chartis Inc. reimbursement.

Resolution: We can provide recovery services regardless if the individual is residing in the U.S., but only to the extent that U.S. law allows. If the criminal is operating in the U.S. using U.S. financial instruments, the individual is covered. If the criminal is operating outside the U.S., Secure Identity Systems can not provide recovery assistance.

Reimbursement: The identity theft event can happen anywhere in the world, and the Chartis policy* will reimburse a U.S. resident for expenses incurred outside of the U.S. to recover that resident's identity. Claims are paid in U.S. dollars.

Are fees such as NSF fees for returned checks part of the expense reimbursement?
Fees for non-sufficient funds (NSF) incurred as a result of someone taking money from an account are part of the financial losses that can occur, thus are not covered by the expense reimbursement. Consumers are urged to contact the financial institution, though, and request that those charges be refunded.

Who is eligible for coverage under the family plan?
The family plan covers a spouse or domestic partner within the household and up to four household dependents under the age of 25.

How long will it take for a victim to receive reimbursement for expenses? Also, will they receive a check or will it be an automatic deposit?
The reimbursement for expenses incurred in recovering from identity theft is typically paid at the end of the recovery so that all expenses are accounted for in the claim. However, if there is a need for an interim claim, that may be accommodated. The claim will take approximately 90 days to be processed and paid. The expense reimbursement is paid as a check directly from the underwriting company to the consumer.

What are the hours of operation for the personal Resolution Advocates and what is their phone number?

Monday thru Friday from 9AM – 5PM CST.

615-377-7661

How do I cancel my subscription?
Email us with your request at support@secureidentitysystems.com. Include your user name and subscription number.