Identity Theft: The Need For Better Consumer Protection

Author

Philippa Lawson, John Lawford

Organization

Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)

Published

2003

Summary

This study was undertaken in order to gain a better understanding of the identity theft problem, to assess its severity from the consumer perspective, and to make policy recommendations to government and other stakeholders. The report attempts to define the scope of ID theft in Canada and to provide an explanation for its existence. It then provides recommendations for improvement of the present regime in a manner that both respects consumers and has the greatest likelihood of sparing them from the nightmare of ID theft. PIAC calls upon consumers, but especially upon business, government and law enforcement, to meet the ID theft challenge head on. This report examines identity theft as a consumer issue. It therefore focuses primarily on theft of consumer information for financial gain, rather than on theft or counterfeiting of government-issued identity documents for use by international terrorists and others in non-financial criminal activities. It does not examine the growing problem of “business identity theft”, nor does it look at trademark violations as a form of ID theft.

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OCA Funded Research
This research received funding support through the Office of Consumer Affairs' Contributions Program.

Contact information

Source: Consumer Policy Research Database