Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a business method and, more particularly, to a business method for insuring for identity theft peril with identity reclamation and credit restoration.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Some credit card companies, retailers, banks or other financial institutions have credit card insurance or credit card theft protection, plans for an annual or monthly fee. These plans, in general, offer to contact the subscriber&#39;s credit card companies in the event of a stolen purse or wallet. Some plans offer to pay the standard liability fee in the event of credit card fraud. These fees are typically $50.00. While $50.00 is not a significant amount of money, since consumers generally carry three to ten different credit cards, liability fees can quickly add-up. These protection plans only compensate for the liability fees and do not provide additional monetary compensation for legal fees or other costs that may result from identity theft.  
           [0003]    In the past, credit card companies considered credit card fraud the cost of doing business. Therefore, the otherwise bad debt was written off except for the nominal liability fee paid by the card holder and very little attention was directed toward identity theft. Recently, Title 18 of the United States Code (USC) Section 1028, was enacted and made identity theft a federal crime punishable by fines and up to 15, 20 and 25 years in prison depending on whether the identity theft is used for drug trafficking, terrorism, etc. Title 18 USC Section 1028 also requires identity theft complaints to be filed with the major credit bureaus and appropriate law enforcement agencies. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the victim should contact the creditors of accounts, such as credit card issuers, banks and the like.  
           [0004]    If a person has their identity stolen, their monetary loss can be as little as fifty dollars, the liability fee for a single credit card, to thousands of dollars. For example some ATM cards or checking accounts do not limit fraudulent use of the ATM card or bad checks to a mere fifty dollars. Therefore, the victim has a greater monetary liability. Moreover, a victim may experience loss due to lost wages or legal fees which may never be recuperated even after a victim has proven identity theft.  
           [0005]    In some instances, an imposter using stolen identity may write fraudulent checks with the intent to steal money, however, imposters may want to steal your identity for other reasons. An imposter may open utility accounts (such as water and electric) to establish a false identity with which they may, apply for jobs, obtain additional false identification, such as birth certificates, passports, drivers license, register to vote, etc. For example, Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMVs), in general, accepts two months of utility bills to establish residence in a state or jurisdiction for issuance of a driver&#39;s license.  
           [0006]    These additional false identifications may be used to obtain, Post Office boxes, cellular phone accounts, pager services, etc., in an effort to hide their true identity while involved in other major illegal activities. Therefore, identity theft is not always a result of stolen money, trashed credit and bad checks. Instead, identity theft creates aliases, from law abiding citizens, for criminals. As the result of the latter, credit is maintained or increased for periods of time or until the objects of the illegal activities are completed or the imposter apprehended for the illegal activity.  
           [0007]    Therefore, identity theft can provide more serious legal problems requiring legal representation by an attorney. For example, an impostor may engage in numerous criminal activities such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder, as well as, acts of international terrorism. Therefore, a victim may suffer monetary losses from loss of employment (due to time spent in jail and/or while being interrogated), and legal fees (such as attorney fees and bonding). Further, monetary loss may be incurred as credit is denied due to erroneous credit or criminal information on the victim&#39;s records even after they have proven identity theft.  
           [0008]    As can be appreciated, there is a continuing need for an identity theft insurance policy for an insured to cover at least in part monetary loss due to identity theft.  
           [0009]    Further there is a continuing need for method for insuring an insured of identity theft peril and an avenue or means for reclaiming the insured&#39;s identity and compromised credit.  
           [0010]    As will be seen more fully below, the present invention is substantially different in structure, methodology and approach from that of prior business methods.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    The preferred embodiment of the business method for identity theft insurance with identity and credit reclamation solves the aforementioned problems in a straightforward and simple manner.  
           [0012]    Broadly, what is provided is a method of insuring an insured for identity theft peril. Additionally, the present invention provides a method and an apparatus to assist the insurer to attempt to mitigate and/or rapidly respond to the insured&#39;s losses and assist in rapidly reclaiming the use of the consumer&#39;s credit and credit related accounts.  
           [0013]    The method includes submitting a claim of identity theft by an insured to an insurer. Thereafter, the method includes the step of investigating the claim of the identity theft peril to verify the identity theft peril. In response to the identity theft being verified, the method includes performing identity reclamation and a credit restoration process. Further, in response to the identity theft being verified, identifying monetary loss by the insured and thereafter, dispersing the insurance benefit having a value proportional to the monetary loss.  
           [0014]    Other features of the present invention include:  
           [0015]    1. Populating storage media with form letter shells and addresses for identity/credit interested agencies (“ICIAs”), including: a population of law enforcement agencies, a population of credit reporting bureaus, a population of credit card issuers, and a population of financial banking institutions.  
           [0016]    2. Populating storage media with identity data representative of an identity of a person. When, an incident of identity theft of the person is determined, accessing the storage media and retrieving a respective form letter shell and address. Thereafter, the method automatically populates the respective form letter shell with the address and with at least part of the identity data to form an incident letter; and, communicates the incident letter to the address to reclaim the identity and restore the credit of the person.  
           [0017]    3. Repeating the populating of the form letter shell for the remaining form letter shells and addresses for the population of law enforcement agencies, the population of credit reporting bureaus, the population of credit card issuers, and the population of financial banking institutions.  
           [0018]    4. Populating storage media of the form letter shells and addresses for check guarantee companies. These companies include such companies similar to CheckRite and Telecheck.  
           [0019]    5. Populating storage media with form letter shells and addresses for a population of judicial entities, including Federal and State courts, including without limitation criminal court and administrative bodies.  
           [0020]    6. Populating storage media with form letter shells and addresses for a population of divisions of motor vehicles or other government personal identification issuers. These entities include, without limitation, the Secret Service, Social Security Administration, United States Postal Service, State and Federal taxing agencies, passport and naturalization agencies, professional licensing organizations including those for medical and legal related professions. Following this population, a repeating of the populating of the form letter shells and addresses for the population of the divisions of motor vehicles or the other government personal identification issuers may be performed. The form letter shell may also be populated with notification to each division of motor vehicles to cease selling of information related to the stolen identity.  
           [0021]    7. Populating storage media with form letter shells and addresses for a population of companies, including without limitation: specialty merchants, utility companies, phone companies, Internet Service Provider companies, cellular phone companies, insurance companies, other service providers, and retailers; and, repeating the populating of the form letter shells and addresses for the population of specialty merchants, the population of utility companies and the population of retailers.  
           [0022]    8. Populating storage media with form letter shells and addresses for a population of direct marketing associations; and, repeating the populating of the form letter shells and addresses for the population of direct marketing associations. The form letter shells may be populated with notification to each direct marketing association to cease and desist in the marketing of the stolen identity.  
           [0023]    9. Populating storage media with form letter shells to establish a red-flag account with the population of credit bureaus and credit card issuers; and, repeating the populating of the form letter shells for the red-flag account.  
           [0024]    10. Populating a data base with required information for an ICIA to assist in combating an identity theft.  
           [0025]    11. Obtaining a list of ICIAs related to an identity theft incident.  
           [0026]    12. Providing a list of needed information and forms needed related to an incident of identity theft.  
           [0027]    An advantage of the present invention is to provide the victim of identity theft peril legal assistance to eliminate if not prevent wrongful imprisonment as the result of identity theft peril.  
           [0028]    Another advantage of the present invention is to provide the victim of identity theft peril with financial compensation through insurance benefits to compensate for monetary loss and other out-of-pocket expenses.  
           [0029]    The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the drawings, the description given herein, and the appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0030]    For further understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are given the same or analogous reference numbers and wherein:  
         [0031]    FIG. A illustrates a flowchart of the business method for insuring for identity theft peril of the present invention;  
         [0032]    FIG. B illustrates a block diagram for notifying agencies of an identity theft incident of the present invention;  
         [0033]    FIG. C illustrates a flowchart for the monetary loss calculation of the present invention;  
         [0034]    FIG. D illustrates a flowchart of the identity theft insurance premium calculation process of the present invention;  
         [0035]    FIG. E illustrates an exemplary identity data file for each of the insured;  
         [0036]    FIG. F illustrates a general block diagram of the identity reclamation and credit restoration system of the present invention;  
         [0037]    FIG. G illustrates a generic form letter shell of the present invention; and,  
         [0038]    FIG. H illustrates a flowchart for the identity and credit maintenance process of the present invention.  
         [0039]    FIG. I illustrates a flowchart for a method of providing a list of information needed for assisting in recovering from an identity theft incident.  
         [0040]    FIG. J illustrates a Certificate of Identity Theft form to be used by the insured to demonstrate that they have been a victim of Identity Theft. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0041]    Referring now to FIG. A, the business method for insuring an insured for identity theft peril (hereinafter referred to as “the method”) is generally referenced by the numeral A 00 . In general, the insurance product will insure the insured for monetary losses incurred in the event of identity theft peril. The product general entails two main components, Obtaining the Insurance A 01  and Processing a claim A 02 .  
         [0042]    The method A 00  begins at with Obtaining the Insurance A 01  with Step A 10  where the applicant prepares an Insurance Application, or alternatively one is prepared on the applicant&#39;s behalf. This is followed by a decision step, Step A 15  which determines if the applicant is insurable. If the applicant is not insurable the process end. However, if the applicant is insurable, then Step A 20  determines the amount of the premium to be charge to the applicant. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention provides the basis of determining the amount of the premium. Factors affecting the amount include the amount of coverage sought, the amount of deductible, the risk of identity theft for that individual, and the probability of restoration and recovery. These and other factors are discussed in greater detail later in the present application. Once the premium amount is premium price is determined, then the applicant purchases the insurance, thereby becoming the “insured.” 
         [0043]    Obtaining the Insurance A 01  ends and Process a claim A 02  is able to occur. Process a claim A 02  may never occur or may occur multiple times in relation to Obtaining the Insurance A 01 .  
         [0044]    The first step of Processing a claim A 02  is Step A 30  where the insured will submit an identity theft claim to the identity theft insurance company B 5 . Step A 30  is followed by Step A 35  where an identity theft claim is generated. Step A 35  is followed by Step A 40  where the claim is investigated by an investigator or claim adjuster of the identity theft insurance company B 5 . Step A 40  is followed by a decision step, Step A 45 . If the determination is NO at Step A 45 , the insured is notified that there is no identity theft at Step A 50 .  
         [0045]    On the other hand, if the determination is YES at Step A 45 , the investigator or claim adjuster of the identity theft insurance company B 5  issues, as shown in FIG. J a Certificate of Identity Theft J 00  in Step A 55 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that once the present invention is known by other to produce a certificate which has a reasonable probability of validity in relation to correctly notifying interested parties that an individuals theft has occurred, Certificate of Identity Theft J 00  will provide proof of theft to multiple parties and organizations.  
         [0046]    Certificate J 00  preferably includes Insured&#39;s Name J 10 , Identification Number J 15  such as the insured Social Security Number, approximate Date of Theft J 20 , Reference Number J 25  to allow for easy confirmation of the theft, as well as Identification Proof J 30  such as a thumb or finger print. Identifying Information J 15  may also be the insured&#39;s social security number, or other identifying information including date of birth, current address, phone number, draft registration number, address, and the like. Proof of Authentication J 35  shows this certificate to be a true document from the Insurer may be a hologram, a watermark or the like. Finally, one skilled in the art will appreciate that digital certificates may be utilized as Certificate J 00 . Identification Proof J 30  may utilize any physical characteristic for which is capable of or tends to establish identity. For example, use of finger prints, eye imaging, DNA/RNA chains, voice recognition and the like.  
         [0047]    Following Issuing a Certificate of Identity Theft in Step A 55  the identity reclamation and the credit restoration process continues at Step A 60 . It should be noted that the acts for the identity restoration and the acts for the credit restoration process overlap and are combined together. Additionally it should be noted that Step A 55  and Step A 60  can be combined or reversed in whole or in part. Step A 60  is followed by Step A 65  where the insurance benefit is dispersed. The insurance benefit is a function of the monetary loss of the insured as determined by the monetary loss calculation process C 00  (FIG. C).  
         [0048]    Referring now to FIG. D, the flowchart for the identity theft insurance premium calculation process D 00  is shown. As can be appreciated, the identity theft insurance premium calculation process D 00  is performed to establish a relationship between the insured and the identity theft insurance company B 5 . The identity theft insurance premium calculation process D 00  begins with Step D 5  where a process for determining pre-existing identity theft is present. When determining whether pre-existing identity theft is present the prospect is provided with reports from the credit bureaus to determine abnormalities. The credit bureau reports can be used to verify at least in part credit account balances. A reported earning report from the Social Security Administration may also generated for verification. A search for existence of imposters in other states such as through criminal records can be performed.  
         [0049]    Step D 5  is followed by Step D 10  where a determination is made whether pre-existing identity theft exists. If the determination at Step D 10  is YES, the results are communicated to the prospect at Step D 15 . On the other hand, if pre-existing identity theft is does not exist, Step D 10  is followed by Step D 20 . At Step D 20  the prospect&#39;s credit rating (CR) is determined. Factors to consider and review include such things as criminal record and the like. One skilled in the art will appreciate the number of different aspects one to review for creation of said rating. Step D 20  is followed by Step D 25  to review and determine, if any, the applications criminal records. Step D 25  is followed by Step D 30  to determine the income (I) of the prospect. As can be appreciated, the higher the CR and/or higher the I creates a higher liability for total monetary loss in the event of identity theft peril. Step D 30  is followed by Step D 35  where a determination is made regarding the liability based on the CR and the I in an underwriting process for identity theft peril.  
         [0050]    Step D 35  is followed by Step D 40  where the deductible is determined.  
         [0051]    It should be noted that the deductible may be determined before Step D 35 . Step D 40  is followed by Step D 45  where the identity theft premium is calculated to establish the relationship between the insured and the identity theft insurance company B 5 . Step D 45  is followed by Step D 50  where applicants finger prints are taken and stored. This will assist in determining and later proving the true identity of the applicant. As mentioned prior, this step can be augmented or replaced by recording other proof of identity which can later be used as Identification Proof J 30 .  
         [0052]    Referring now to FIG. C, the flowchart for the monetary loss calculation process C 00  is shown. The monetary loss calculation process C 00  begins with Step C 5  where a total of the credit card fraud liability fee (CCL) is calculated. For example, if only one credit card was tampered with by the imposter, the CCL would be approximately $50.00. However, if the imposter used other cards or was issued other credit cards, the CCL for the other credit cards is added together. However, if the liability or loss incurred is less than the CCL of the card, the liability or loss would be added to the total. Step C 5  is followed by Step C 10  where a determination of the ATM loss or liability (ATML) is determined. Since each banking or financial institution B 15  is different, the ATML varies from one insured to the other. The ATML may include a liability fee or may include the total loss to the insured. ATML will also include risk of loss in relation to the use of the card or other related bank cards as debit cards. Step C 10  is followed by Step C 15  where a total of fraudulent checks (CKT) is calculated. Step C 15  is followed by Step C 20  where the utility debit (UTB) is calculated such as for cellular telephone use. Utility debit may occur as the result of an imposter engaging in criminal activity. For example, once the criminal activity is complete by an imposter or if the imposter is apprehended, the utility debt may become delinquent and/or additional or first time deposits maybe required. This is also the case for fraudulent use of credit cards.  
         [0053]    Step C 20  is followed by Step C 25  where lost wages (LW) by the insured is calculated such as the result of improper imprisonment, interrogation and court appearances. Step C 25  is followed by Step C 30  where bond fees BF are determined. Step C 30  is followed by Step C 35  where attorney fees are calculated and other out-of-pocket expenses (OOP). The out-of-pocket expenses may further include check canceling fees and check ordering fees for new account activation. OOP includes monetary damages not easily categorized above. Step C 35  is followed by Step C 40  which calculates Non-Monetary Damages (NMD). These damages can include emotional distress and the like.  
         [0054]    Step C 40  is followed by Step C 45  the total of the monetary loss is calculated by adding or summing the CCL, the ATML, the CKT, the UTB, the LW, the BF, the NMD, and the OOP, including the attorney fees, together.  
         [0055]    Furthermore, the total of the monetary loss calculated in Step C 45  may be subtracted from the policies deductible D to determine the insurance benefit disbursement of Step A 45 .  
         [0056]    Additionally, the present invention will allow for a distribution of material to assist the insured, or prospective insured, to minimize and/or decrease the risk of identity theft. Preferably a packet of material is provided to the insured or prospective insured containing instructions for the insured to take to reduce the risk. One skilled in the art will appreciate the potential contents of such a packet as well as the fact that the risk will be reduced to the Insurer of such a person. Therefore, a rate reduction maybe available to those who follow instruction from such a packet.  
         [0057]    Referring now to FIGS. B, E and F, the identity reclamation and credit restoration system will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. B, the identity theft insurance company B 5  communicates with the specialty merchants and utility companies B 10  to identity the unauthorized car purchases and utility debit (UTB) if any. The identity theft insurance company B 5  communicates with the social security and passport administrations B 20 , the insurance companies B 30 , the state and federal courts and law enforcement agencies B 35 , the credit reporting agencies B 40  and the financial institution including all banks and credit companies, including without limitation credit card companies B 15 . Furthermore, the identity theft insurance company B 5  communicates with the DMVs and the Post Office B 45 , and direct marketing associations B 25 . One skilled in the art may appreciate that direct marketing associations B 25  receiving incorrect address changes may be a benefit, potentially the only benefit, to the insured suffering identity theft, and updates may be undesired.  
         [0058]    Referring now to FIG. F, a general block diagram of the database system for the identity reclamation and credit restoration process is illustrated. The insurance company B 5  stores form letter shells in a plurality of databases F 5 , F 10 , F 12 , F 14 , F 16 , F 18 , F 20 , F 22  and F 24 . For letter shells for credit reporting agencies are stored database F 5 . Database F 10  includes the form letter shells for all of the credit card issuers such as VISA, MASTER CARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, etc. The form letters content include reporting of the identity theft, canceling of any existing accounts, and forms for establishing new accounts in the insured&#39;s name. This provides for (1) stopping identity theft; (2) reclaiming the insured&#39;s identity and (3) restoring the insured&#39;s credit. Furthermore, when establishing a new account, the form letter includes links all of the insured identity information and contact information stored in the insured identity data files database F 26 . The identity data file is described later in detail with regard to FIG. E. Additionally, an identity password may be assigned by the insurance company B 5  and communicated with each of certified notifications via the form letters. The database F 10  includes the address for each credit card issuer and is directed to the Fraud Departments thereof.  
         [0059]    Database F 12  includes the form letters for law enforcement agencies including local police for all states and jurisdictions including the addresses. The law enforcement letters database F 14  may further include submission of information for filing a police report or complaint of the identity theft in compliance with Title 18 USC—Section 1028. Database F 14  includes form letters for the Social Security Administration to request reported earnings. The database F 16  includes form letters specialty merchants and utility companies. Specialty merchants may include automobile dealerships, retail merchants, etc. The database F 16  includes the addresses for each of the specialty merchants and utility companies.  
         [0060]    The database F 18  includes forms for DMVs and other government personal identification (ID) issuers to cease selling of the identity. In some states, a driver&#39;s license may include a social security number. For example, a social security number may be provide under a social security number heading or may be the driver&#39;s license number. Recently, some states provide allows the ID or driver&#39;s license applicant to use a different number other than the social security number. Therefore, for those states which use the social security number for the driver&#39;s license number, a new number is generated for the insured and submitted accordingly.  
         [0061]    The database F 20  includes the form letters for financial institutions and banks including bank clearinghouses. Database F 22  is form letters to direct marketing associations to cease and desist in the marketing of the stolen identity. Database F 24  includes the forms for the creation of a red-flag account.  
         [0062]    Referring now to FIG. E, the identity data file E 00  is shown and is stored in the insured identity data files of database F 26  for each of the insured. The identity data file E 00  includes personal identity information data fields such as the first name E 10 , the last name E 12 , the address on address lines E 14  and E 16 , city E 18 , state E 20 , zip code E 22 , home telephone E 24  and e-mail address E 26 .  
         [0063]    Employment information data fields includes data fields for employer name E 28 , employer address lines  1  and  2  E 30  and E 32 , city E 34 , state E 36 , zip code E 38 , work telephone E 40 , Social Security Number E 42  and aliases E 44  such as for a maiden name. It should be noted, that the employment information may include data field (NOT SHOWN) for employment history for the past 5, 7 or 10 years.  
         [0064]    Other personal information data fields includes fields for entering date of birth E 50 , mother&#39;s maiden name E 52 , high school E 54  and college education E 56 . In the preferred embodiment, other personal information include data fields for income E 80 , driver&#39;s license number E 82 , place of birth E 84 , marital status E 86  and sex or gender E 88 .  
         [0065]    The identity data file E 00  also provides for data fields E 60  for identifying utility company accounts; data fields E 66  for identifying banking institutions; and data fields E 70  for credit account numbers and creditors.  
         [0066]    The identity data file E 00  also provides for data fields E 90  for entry of Finger Print data. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other forms of physical proof may include blood samples, DNA/RNA chains, eye related images and the like.  
         [0067]    The data fields may be populated via an online session through the Internet. However, the information may be provided via a questionnaire.  
         [0068]    Referring now to FIG. G, a generic form letter shell G 00  is shown. The identity theft may result from different losses therefore different form letter formats will be used. For example, identity theft may be an attempt to steal money. Therefore, the identity recovery may be as simple as the cancellation of bank accounts, check cancellations, credit card cancellation and the payment of the liability fee of $50.00 for each credit card fraudulently used.. Therefore, the identity reclamation and credit restoration is primarily focused on the credit restoration. On the other hand, if the identity theft created an alias for use in illegal activities, the identity reclamation and credit restoration process would primarily focus on identity reclamation to minimize future monetary loss and eliminate a criminal record. Nevertheless, in some instances both types of identity theft converge, especially if the imposter using the alias completes their objectives.  
         [0069]    In general, the generic form letter shell G 00  includes a letterhead field G 10 , date data field G 15 , address data field G 20  and a letter data field G 30  including links to identity data fields stored in database F 26 .  
         [0070]    Returning again to FIG. F, it should be noted that all communications may be performed via multi-media communications F 40 . Any mailed communications through the United States Postal Service F 44  are certified. In an alternate embodiment, if the communications are sent via the Internet F 46  in the form of an e-mail communications via the identity reclamation and credit restoration processor F 30 . An e-mail communication is first assembled using a standardized electronic-mail transfer protocol which may be sent with a digital signature. Digital signatures are well known for use in encryption and secure communications. Therefore, no further discussion regarding digital signatures are necessary.  
         [0071]    The e-mail communication includes an e-mail address header which is automatically populated and a text section for insertion of the generic form letter G 00  or other alert. Alternately, the identity reclamation and credit restoration processor F 30  may be equipped with a printer to print the hard copy form letters. Additionally, the identity reclamation and credit restoration processor F 30  may include a fax modem for fax communications F 42  of the form letters via a fax transmission protocol.  
         [0072]    The identity reclamation and credit restoration processor F 30  accesses the stored form letter shells in a plurality of databases F 5 , F 10 , F 12 , F 14 , F 16 , F 18 , F 20 , F 21 , F 22 , F 24 , F 26 , F 27 , F 28  and F 29  and automatically populates the data fields of the generic form letter G 00 , accordingly. Further, the identity reclamation and credit restoration processor F 30  accesses the identity data file in database F 26  and automatically populates the generic form letter G 00  with the linked data.  
         [0073]    Referring now to FIG. H, the flowchart for the identity and credit maintenance process is shown. The identity and credit maintenance process H 00  begins with Step H 10  where a universal search for identity breaches are conducted. For example, an imposter may only write fraudulent checks in the name of the insured. On the other hand, an imposter may have changed addresses on existing credit card accounts or have new credit card accounts opened. Step H 10  is followed by Step H 15  where a credit report is requested and evaluated for maintenance. Therefore, abnormal patterns of credit requests and unauthorized accounts can be rapidly determined. Step H 15  is followed by Step H 20 , where monitoring of reported income or earnings from the Social Security Administration is performed. Additionally, Internet scans for identity information may be performed during Step H 10 .  
         [0074]    Step H 20  is followed by Step H 25  where a determination is made regarding the need to update the identity password. Therefore, maintenance of the identity and credit may include periodic issuance of a new identity password issued by the insurance company B 5  or other agency at Step H 30 .  
         [0075]    Referring now to FIG. I, the flowchart depicting a method of obtaining the information and forms necessary to assist in combating an incident of identity theft. Step I 10  populates ICIA database I 12  with information related to Identity/Credit Interested Agencies (ICIAs). As discussed previously these agencies include law enforcement agencies, credit reporting bureaus, credit card issuers, financial banking institutions, and the like. It will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art of what additional companies, groups, agencies, and individuals will be incorporated as ICIAs. Database I 12  can include information required, needed or desired by each ICIA in combating an identity theft incident. This information can include the form of proof required to contest a charge (financial and/or criminal). For example, a notarized statement might be required by a particular ICIA. Other may required an affidavit. For example, in relation to a law enforcement agency, information and forms necessary regarding reporting of the theft incident can be included as well as information and forms necessarily to prove that a criminal charge was brought on the wrong person for various charges and/or activities.  
         [0076]    Additionally, an “identity theft incident” should not be construed to be limited to a single occurrence. It is not uncommon for a stolen identity to be used by more than one person. Therefore the term “incident” as used herein, should be viewed broadly and to encompass more than a single discrete occurrence of identity theft. Rather the term “incident” can encompass a multitude of discrete occurrences of identity theft over a substantial period of time.  
         [0077]    When such an incident recognized then, a list of ICIAs related to the incident can be obtained and/or generated, as shown in STEP I 14 . This recognition can be accomplished in a multitude of ways. For example, the individual or representative thereof, can submit such a claim. Or a flag could be generated via a credit and/or account activity watch. This flag could be triggered by a multitude of appropriate occurrences or combinations thereof. For example, abnormal credit activity, substantially large purchases, out of locale credit activity (i.e. utility activation outside of living area), or the like can be used to “flag” an account. The flagging agency could either then immediately act or could follow-up with the individual to ascertain the correctness of the “flag.” 
         [0078]    STEP I 14  will then produce a List of ICIAs Related to an Incident of Identity Theft  116 . This list need not be all inclusive, but can be limited through user and/or computer selection. For example, this list can be limited to credit agencies and financial institutions.  
         [0079]    STEP I 18  will then parse Database I 12  with List I 16  to obtain an Action Item List of Information to Assist in Identity Reclamation I 20 . List I 20  can then be utilized to attempt to recover from the identity theft.  
         [0080]    As shown in FIG. E, identity data file E 00  then can be used to fulfill some, if not all the requirements, in List I 20  by Step I 22 , thereby creating a reclamation form for each ICIA I 24 . Each said form should be evaluated for completeness and/or proper form I 26 . If the form is complete and in the correct format, the it can be sent to the ICIA as shown in Step I 28 . However, if form I 24  is not in the correct format and/or not complete, then the needed information must be collected and/or the proper form must be gathered as shown in Step I 30 . The correct information and/or proper form should be completed as shown in Step I 32 . The form can be re-evaluated at Step I 24  to ensure proper form and completeness. If complete, as evaluated in Step I 26 , then it is sent to the ICIA as shown in Step I 28 . If not complete and in the proper form under the evaluation in Step I 26 , Step I 30  is performed again. Step I 28  can be carried out as discussed in relation to Step F 40  as shown in FIG. F.  
         [0081]    Step I 24  of FIG. I can provide a “head start” to reclamation of the identity, as typically time is of the essence in these situations and the present invention provides a substantial benefit in such reclamation attempts  
         [0082]    The preceding embodiment is given by way of example only, and not by way of limitation to the invention. The true essence and spirit of this invention are defined in the appended claims, and is not intended that the embodiment of the invention preceding should limit the scope thereof. It will be appreciated that the present invention can take many forms and embodiments. Variations and combinations thereof obvious to one skilled in the art will be included within the invention defined by the claims.

Technology Category: 3