Date: Mon, Oct 9, 2000 1:57 PM
Subject: Preventing ID theft

Idea to stop ID theft.

Build a set of lock and keys in an FTC computer controlled automated process.

1) Each creditor is assigned a unique creditor ID number.

2) Each CRA is assigned a unique CRA ID number.

3) Each citizen in the CRA database is assigned a LOCK number.

Information can be reported to a CRA without lock & key. Information can not be reported by CRA to creditor without the citizen unlocking the data to the creditor.

The citizen uses CALLER-ID (telephone) to unlock the flow of information from CRA to creditor. The FTC sets up an automated telephone answering system which allows based on the CALLER-ID the unlocking of the data for a particular CRA to a particular creditor. The time period is an optional variable which can allow different lengths of permission by the citizen by pushing the corresponding touch-tone number.

In addition to this automated system, there must be a special non-automated system to allow for special case scenerios, but hopefully 90 percent or more of unlocking can be done using the CALLER-ID automated system.

Barry McDonald