Welcome to The Credential Check Examiner [more...]

Identity Theft On the Decline? [more...]

Employers Verify Workers' Social Security Numbers Faster [more...]

Senator Dianne Feinstein Proposes Three More Privacy Bills [more...]

New Device Delivers Alcohol Without the Liquid [more...]

Courts Punch Holes in Company Body-Piercing Policy [more...]

MapQuest it! [more...]

Delays in Software Sharing Upgrade Cumbersome for FBI [more...]

Smile This Time: Your Drivers' License is Going to be Seen a Lot More Often! [more...]

Spreading High Performance Throughout Your OrganizationŠ [more...]

Contact Information [more...]

Credential Check Corporation would like to welcome you to our new family! As most of you know, RAMS Group and Nationwide Record Search have joined forces to form the new leader in the industry, Credential Check Corporation. This combination has brought together the latest technologies, proven expertise, and the dedication to 100% client satisfaction that you have come to expect.

As part of our new venture, we are proud to present you with our monthly newsletter, The Credential Check Examiner. Our goal is to provide you with the latest and greatest information on the security industry to keep you, your colleagues and your families safe and sound. Please enjoy! Feedback and article submissions may be sent to info@credentialcheck.com.

Identity theft on the decline? Tell me it is not so. According to new study, identity theft may actually be on the decline. In a report released late last month, it seems that while identity theft continues to afflict millions of U.S. consumers, the number of victims is declining. According to James Van Dyke of Javelin Inc., a research firm that conducted the study, about 9.3 million Americans were victims of the crime last year. According to the Federal Trade Commission10.1 million consumers had been victimized in 2003. Still one in every 31 consumers were victims last year. The report however, holds another surprise. Contrary to popular wisdom and the ceaseless waxing of privacy advocates, using the Internet may be a consumer's best fraud-fighting tool. In fact, the study suggests that the Internet has gotten a bad rap and the risk it poses to consumers may be grossly exaggerated. "The very thing consumers are most afraid of is actually the thing that makes [them] safer," said Van Dyke. Those who noticed the fraud quickly by viewing their accounts online usually were able cut their losses, Van Dyke said. The study also showed that consumers who spot fraud online suffer an average theft of only about $500 while consumers who spot the problem by other means suffer average losses closer $4,500. "Although identity theft is still a major concern in America, this crime has decreased due to the awareness of the American public. As more of the public is aware of the crime and how they can protect themselves, the number of victims will drop significantly as well as the average dollars lost per victim." states Timothy Whiting, Director of Applicant Screening with Credential Check Corporation.

The study also suggests personal data is most often stolen offline-from an employer or trash bin. Only 12 percent of the victims in the study reported they believed their information was stolen electronically. Stolen or lost wallets, checkbooks, and mail remain the principle mechanisms by which thieves obtain the identities of others. FTC attorney Lois Greisman said, "The crime is not growing." Greisman concluded, "We're seeing a leveling off and that's where you're going to see your first signs of improvement. I'd like to say this is a positive signal."

All this spells bad news for privacy advocates and headline grabbing legislators searching for excuses to eliminate our access to public records. For more than a decade, federal and state governments have embraced the elimination of access to public records at all levels. Under the false banner of privacy protection the war against identity theft has resulted in little more than closing access to government records that were once in the public domain. Fraud investigators have long known that most identity thieves do not use public records or computers to steal identities. Thieves do not need to steal someone's identity in order to commit a crime. All they need is to be creative enough to fabricate a nine-digit number that does not begin with an eight and nine (the Social Security Administration does not issue SSNs starting with an eight or nine) and select a date of birth other than their own. Viola! A new identity. Fighting ID theft by eliminating access to public records is like attempting to stop telephone fraud by eliminating the public's access to telephones. Wouldn't it make more sense to just enforce existing law and punish the criminals?

Verifying workers' Social Security numbers is not required for most employers. However, the practice is gaining acceptance and has proven helpful in identifying undocumented workers and people to use false identities. To help employers do a better job, the Social Security Administration will soon allow employers to verify if SSNs provided by their employees match the SSA's records by going online at www.SSA.gov. Companies checking on ten or fewer workers will be served instantly. Larger requests will have to be scheduled and take a day to process.

California Dianne Feinstein last month introduced three new privacy bills. One of them appears identical to a bill she introduced last year which would several restrict non-government use of SSNs. However, some states have already begun to realize curbing the use of SSNs can be costly to many employers. Recent states' rush to put a stop to identity theft by barring the use of SSNs on drivers' licenses and other state issued documents possess potential recordkeeping problems for both employers and states. Utah, Ohio and New York dropped SSNs on unemployment insurance claims forms filed by ex-employees, leaving companies with no way to track or challenge claims. Some firms were able to get exemptions, but more problems are likely as more states and the feds follow suit and further restrict the use of SSNs.

A new device from England provides alcohol consumers a new way to enjoy their favorite beverage. The device, Alcohol With Out Liquid (AWOL) enables the inhalation of oxygen combined with alcohol vapor. Spirit Partners, Inc. of New York recently acquired the exclusive license to market the AWOL technology in the United States. The AWOL device consists of two simple components: an oxygen generator and a hand-held vaporizer. Tubes from the generator attach to the vaporizer. The user selects his favorite distilled spirit, and pours into the vaporizer. Oxygen mixes with the alcohol producing a mist, which is inhaled through the mouth or nose. Resultantly, alcohol enters the bloodstream through the lungs rather than the stomach. Once the alcohol enters the bloodstream, it affects the body in the same way as drinking alcohol. Additionally, the alcohol leaves the body in the same manner as if it had been consumed by drinking.

The manufacturer claims that when used responsibly, AWOL poses no greater risk to the consumer than consuming alcohol in the traditional way. Lawmakers are not convinced. State Senator Bob Hagedorn of Colorado says, "An AWOL device is to alcohol what a crack pipe is to cocaine." The senator has proposed a bill that would ban sale, purchase or use of the device in Colorado. Others are concerned as well. Because the device is available in both a commercial and individual user configuration, some college and university administrators have expressed concern of the devices finding there way onto campus and in the hands of students under the age of 21.

George M. Patak, Risk Management Consultant for Credential Check Corporation heeds the following warnings in regards to AWOL: "This device will encourage irresponsible use of alcohol. Vaporized alcohol enters the blood stream faster and gives you a more intense "buzz" because it is not filtered through the digestive system. What the company doesn't say in their press release is that with AWOL technology you get drunk faster on less alcohol. They are marketing this to college students who tend to be binge drinkers on a budget after a quick intense "high". The human body has a built in protection for alcohol overdose by forcing us to vomit, when you by-pass the digestive system by vaporizing alcohol into the blood stream you are not afforded this built-in protection. What this will produce is a larger population of young people at risk of death from alcohol poisoning or drunk driving car crashes getting addicted to alcohol at a younger age."

Attempting to manage the appearance of workers in the public view, some employers have established anti-body piercing policies. Employee suits charging discrimination based on personal appearance-tattoos, dreadlocks, religious symbols, and body-piercings are on the rise. While most courts have ruled that employers have the right to set standards for employee appearance, compromise is safer. Costco Wholesale's offer to let a store cashier cover her pierced eyebrow with a bandage won the court approval. Domino's Pizza allowed a Sikh to substitute its standard cap with turban and its logo also won. Best advice: Compromise if possible. Zero tolerance policies are rarely enforceable and often generate employee ill will.

According to the TSA, there is an estimated 12.5 million tons of air cargo transported per year, 2.8 million tons on passenger planes. The remaining 9.7 million tons of freight is being shipped in cargo planes.

MapQuest became a verb before Google. The small Denver, Colorado firm and its fifty or so employees, produce driving directions for over 45 million direction-challenged users a month. Avid users, however, know that on rare occasions the directions are not accurate and that small mapping mistakes can create big frustrations. To avoid frustrating your customers, MapQuest the route from your local airport to your office and see if the directions are accurate. If not, contact MapQuest and report the error. Sources tell us the folks at MapQuest appreciate the input and are quick to make corrections.

Four years and millions of dollars ago the FBI embarked on an ambitious plan to update its antiquated computer systems and overhaul its international data system intended to help it better share files on terrorism and criminal cases. Now, however, FBI Director Robert Mueller is reporting that the plan may have been too ambitious: "We're not where we wanted to be at this time with the final phase." The problem appears to be with the software, called Virtual Case File, which has been under development since June of 2001. Because of the problems, the FBI has asked a different contractor to determine how much of the software can be salvaged and which additional programs will be necessary. Mueller also reported that additional software will be necessary to help the FBI "meet our responsibilities to our country more efficiently."

Your drivers' license isn't just the go-ahead to drive anymore. To buy a drink or get on a plane, that state issued card is required, but its responsibilities are about to get a lot bigger. A federal intelligence overhaul that became law in December 2005 aims to close loopholes for identity fraud (such as those used by 9/11 terrorists) by standardizing drivers' licenses so they can be read by machines, contain uniform data, verified for accuracy, and prevent forgeries. But privacy advocates claim the new federal guidelines will create a federal identification card and let the government track the whereabouts of innocent people. States can make the decision to opt out of adhering to the regulations, but those licenses would in effect be useless for any federal purpose, including getting on a plane. The specifics of the law, such as biometric measures (fingerprints, etc.) and bar codes have yet to be decided. Stay tuned to see if - or when - you'll need a new picture! "9/11 changed the way we think, conduct business, travel and monitor those that would commit an act of terror. Law abiding citizens must deal with a higher level of security within our borders in order to filter out those with less than honorable intentions. It is simply a fact of life that changed with 9/11 and we as citizens of this country must realize this fact to support it and follow through with this type of legislation". James E. Bonnell, CPP, CFE, Director of Risk Management, Credential Check Corporation.

Every company has high-performing workgroups that make money for the business and develop new products, services or markets. These workgroups create environments in which results are achieved and people flourish. High-performing groups adapt quickly to changes in the marketplace, understand their customers and know how to get the internal resources they need to accomplish their goals.

If you spread the secrets of these groups, you can improve the overall performance of your company.

How do you identify these high-performing groups? These are the groups that get financial results. They introduce new products, services, markets or processes. And, they foster an environment built on valuing people, optimizing critical thinking and seizing opportunities. This environment allows high performance to spread throughout your organization, and makes the best and brightest want to come and stay:

• Value people: The best way to show respect is to treat smart people as if they are smart people. Showing respect doesn't mean people can't push back, argue, or advocate strongly for their point of view. Nor is it about being nice.
• Optimize critical thinking: To think critically, people have to get their emotions out of the way. They have to see congruity between leaders' words and their actions, and between the values that are preached and the values that are lived. They need to believe that the company does not withhold important information necessary to do their jobs.
• Seize opportunities: To drive high performance, companies need an environment where people have the latitude to seize opportunities, take risks, generate new ideas, and make mistakes. Build it and they will come: If people believe they can make a difference, they will come. If they are given the opportunity to do their jobs well, they will stay. Most importantly, if you build the right environment, they will perform.

If you are interested in obtaining additional information about these articles or the services offered by Credential Check Corporation, please contact one of the following individuals:

Michael A. Pachuta President		888-689-2000 michael.pachuta@credentialcheck.com
Robert H. Samuel Executive Vice President		888-689-2000 robert.samuel@credentialcheck.com
James E. Bonnell, CFE, CPP Director of Risk Management		248-526-5209 james.bonnell@credentialcheck.com
Timothy D. Whiting Director of Applicant Screening		248-526-5213 timothy.whiting@credentialcheck.com

Thank you! We'll see you next month!