ECONOMICS REPORT - Identity Theft

ECONOMICS REPORT - Identity Theft
By Jill Moss¹

Broadcast: Friday, March 04, 2005

This is Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Economics Report.

Identity theft has been a subject in the news recently. It is considered one of the top crimes in the United States. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that ten million Americans become victims of identity theft each year.

Identity thieves steal personal information. They collect Social Security numbers, banking² records and telephone numbers. They use this information to request loans or get credit cards in the name of the victim.

Identity thieves spend a lot on goods or services without paying for them. F.T.C. officials estimate more than fifty-two thousand million dollars in goods and services were purchased last year through identity theft.

Victims of identity theft can spend years attempting to re-establish their financial history and good name. Some have been denied jobs or arrested for crimes in which they were not involved.

Identity thieves use several methods to get what they need. They may trick people into giving personal information over the telephone. They also may steal documents containing such information.

Activist³ groups have called for new laws to protect the public from identity theft. Recently, a committee of the United States Senate said it would hold hearings on the issue.

Two cases of identity theft helped the committee to call the hearings. Last month, Bank of America said it lost computer tapes containing personal information for more than one million federal employees. They include some Senators and members of the Defense⁴ Department. Bank of America says it deeply regrets the incident.

Earlier, the Los Angeles Times newspaper reported that thieves stole about one hundred fifty thousand personal records from ChoicePoint Incorporated. The company sells Social Security numbers and credit information to other businesses. In two thousand two, a similar security violation⁵ reportedly affected⁶ about seven thousand people.

American lawmakers will consider plans to increase supervision⁷ of companies that collect personal information. Several plans have been proposed to help individuals whose personal information was stolen. Another proposal would let Americans halt any investigation⁸ into their financial history without their permission.

This VOA Special English Economics Report was written by Jill Moss. This is Gwen Outen.

1 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

2 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

3 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

6 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

7 supervision   

n.监督，管理

参考例句：

• The work was done under my supervision.这项工作是在我的监督之下完成的。
• The old man's will was executed under the personal supervision of the lawyer.老人的遗嘱是在律师的亲自监督下执行的。

8 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。