The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is providing $1.7 million in grant funds to provide direct assistance to victims of identity theft and financial fraud. The awards expand existing services and strengthen law enforcement’s response to victims of identity theft and financial fraud nationwide, according to the DOJ.
The Identity Theft Resource Center, a national organization that provides free identity theft victim assistance, will receive $500,000 to improve and expand its current identity theft victim counseling and individual case work while expanding staff at its identity theft call center.
The Texas Legal Services Center, a state support office and regional victim services provider, will receive $500,000 to operate the Victims Initiative for Counseling, Advocacy and Restoration of the Southwest (VICARS) project. VICARS provides free legal assistance to victims of ID theft and financial fraud living in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Colorado.
The Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center will receive $500,000 to enhance its existing practice to provide free assistance to victims of identity theft and financial fraud through increasing direct victim services, self-advocacy and pro bono attorney development.
The Atlanta Victim Assistance Inc., a non-profit organization, will receive $200,000 to carry out a public education campaign aimed at stopping identity theft and financial fraud in Atlanta.
The awards are an outcome of the President’s Task Force on Identity Theft’s efforts.
Avoiding Red FlagsNXG Strategies LLC, Brentwood, Tenn., has created a Web site to assist financial institutions’ efforts toward compliance with the "Red Flag Rules," or Section 114 of FACTA (Fair and Accurate Transactions Act). The regulations calls for financial institutions and other creditors to create a written plan for detecting and responding to transaction patterns and practices that could be signals of identity theft.
Scott Smith, NXG co-founder and president, says the company created www.redflagrules.net "to boil down the requirements of the Red Flag Rules into an easy to access format, and more importantly to provide practical insight on how to meet the requirements."
The Red Flag Rules seek to create a national standard for organizations who manage customer accounts, requiring them to proactively look for evidence of ID theft and to act to prevent or lessen damage to consumers.
Sponsored Content
SENNEBOGEN 340G telehandler improves the view in Macon County, NC
An elevated cab is one of several features improving operational efficiency at the Macon County Solid Waste Management agency in North Carolina. When it comes to waste management, efficiency, safety and reliability are priorities driving decisions from day one, according to staff members of the Macon County Solid Waste Management Department in western North Carolina. The agency operates a recycling plant in a facility originally designed to bale incoming materials. More recently, the building has undergone significant transformations centered around one machine: a SENNEBOGEN telehandler (telescopic handler).
Smith says www.redflagrules.com offers information on selecting a services provider "so you will end up on the right side of compliance as it happens."
Get curated news on YOUR industry.
Enter your email to receive our newsletters.

Explore the March 2008 Issue
Check out more from this issue and find your next story to read.
Latest from Recycling Today
- Coperion, Herbold bringing plastic recycling technologies to K Show
- Schupan and Sons appoints VP of Human Resources
- Vanden launches catalogue for recycled PET resins, flake
- PCA: Corrugated products customers ‘cautious’ amid economic uncertainty
- McKinsey sees recycling as an aluminum supply necessity
- RegenX delays annual report, says it is nearing facility restart
- WM Kelley moves into new offices
- US Senate backs reduced cuts to EPA