Identity Theft Today, ‘Identity Theft’ is acknowledged as a most unregulated, least litigated, fastest growing ‘White Collar’ crime in the world. It’s more than stolen credit cards taken on shopping sprees. It covers a wide range of ingenious possibilities to defraud people of personal assets including government health care and other entitlements. “Identity Theft’ and ‘Fraud Prevention’ is discussed in public awareness campaigns like the 2006 Canada Fraud Awareness Month when Sheridan Scott, Commissioner of Competition said: “Fraud is a serious problem that undermines consumer confidence and drains billions from legitimate markets around the world. It cannot be solved by law enforcement alone …”  In a similar venue, David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry said: “Scams not only cost victims financially, but also robs them of their dignity, their sense of self and, in some cases, their very identity. If Canadians do not recognize theses scams and fraudulent acts, they cannot report them … and perpetrators will prevail …” It sounds like a serious problem. In reality perpetrators prevail: scam capabilities are sometimes ahead and sometimes behind consumer safeguards … It all depends on authorities acknowledging the issue and taking precautionary measures. The perfect sting is a well-kept dark secret of banking … You could say, a cover up!
The Perfect Sting: Nothing in public awareness materials prepares people for ‘Sitting Duck’ loans! Victims of ‘Identity Theft’ losing lifetime savings and homes to usury tricks experience total devastation. Left unheeded those feeling worsen with a sense of disenfranchisement of citizens’ rights. Indeed, our experience of Liberal and Conservative government intransigence over a ‘Sitting Duck’ private members’ bill for consumer protection concerning ‘Identity Theft’ is a terrible record of leadership. It prompts people into activism when they might otherwise retire. • Canadian ‘Sitting Duck’ bank loans must be outlawed as they are in other countries. • People need a good CRI - Complaint Response Indicator - to track all complaint handling agency intake volumes and resolution stages. Peoples’ livelihoods are at stake: News reports figure about two homes at risk every lending business day. Premier Dalton McGuinty’s Bill 152 was implemented to address an estimated less that 10 cases a year of altered ‘Title’ records … but it does very little to stop usury tricks that drain billions according to Sheridan Scott, Commissioner of Competition. At a peak time of concern with stolen homes in the news, NDP Peter Kormos proposed an idea for an investigation into lending practices, and leaders Jack Layton, Howard Hampton, and the Oakville Riding have raised more than a thousand signatures in support … Jill and I have reputations as writers and editors about the impacts of ‘Identity Theft’ and the serious social consequences of fraud. Jack Layton describes me as a ‘Prolific Campaigner’. Based on our book reviews and a ‘YouTube’ link to ‘Tony Crawford Sitting Duck’ … the media calls me a ‘Crusader’. Our first book about Canadian politics was ‘The Gomery Effect’ with reflections of the Liberal Sponsorship Scandal. The essay developed as ‘The Perfect Sting’ with a focus on corporate rip-off tendencies and creative lending practices to corporations like Enron, which as it was brought down by market forces is described by some as the most perfect example of capitalism. So, nothing changes and the game continues. The sequel, ‘Identity Theft Protection’ was inspired by the resignation of a Chief of Retail Banking whose letter denying the existence of ‘Sitting Duck’ loans was featured as an introduction to their storybook scheme. The nonfiction also includes Oakville Riding resolutions to combat ‘Identity Theft’ discussed at the NDP 2007 Provincial Convention for consumer protection. People around the world believe lending institutions should be more socially responsible. But, there is no legal requirement for it in Canada: indeed, quite the opposite. • I personally believe Banks could do more, and should be forced to do ‘Due Diligence’ as required to prevent fraudulent loans.