Released: April 24, 2007

ID theft task force urges tougher penalties

Source: Rachelle Younglai, Reuters [Washington Post] (Free Registration)

A U.S. task force created to curb identity theft urged federal agencies on Monday to help protect consumers by ceasing unnecessary use of Social Security numbers.

A plan put forward by the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission also recommended that Congress toughen and expand existing laws to make some identity thieves face a mandatory two-year sentence.

The identity theft prevention task force, chaired by U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras, was established last May by the White House. It now includes 17 federal agencies and departments such as the Homeland Security Department and the U.S. Postal Service.

The new plan called for measures requiring the private sector to safeguard personal data and notify consumers when a breach occurs and for creating a national identity theft law enforcement center for coordinating police investigations.

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