This content was created by Robert Siciliano. This content was uploaded by Robert Siciliano. This is a YouTube video (CBS Early Show segment) titled "Medical Identity Theft Expert Speaker. www.IDTheftSecurity.com" published November 20, 2008. The excerpt is a TV news report about medical identity theft: Early Show anchors and correspondents (identified in the transcript as multiple speakers, including consumer correspondent Susan Kopin/Susan Copen and an anchor named Maggie) interview/report on victim Brandon Sharp and describe how thieves use stolen Social Security/insurance information to get medical care, causing large bills, damaged credit, and altered medical records. The piece references expert Robert Siciliano (CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com) as an authority on the issue, describes hospital authentication challenges and biometric check-in trials, and offers consumer protection tips (review explanation of benefits, report stolen insurance cards, monitor records).
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Coming up, a new identity theft. They get first-rate medical treatment using your name. How to protect yourself on our special series coming up on The Early Show.
Someone could be using your information to get medical treatment. I'm Susan Copen. Coming up on The Early Show, how to protect yourself from this growing crime.
This morning we continue our series, Early on the Case: Stolen Identities. ID theft like you've never seen before. Early Show consumer correspondent Susan Kopin says that a growing form of identity theft can make you sick. We're talking about medical ID theft. Good morning, Susan.
Good morning, Maggie. This crime involves someone pretending to be you and getting all kinds of medical treatment, from simple medications to life-saving operations. And if someone steals your medical ID, you can get stuck with bills totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. When Brandon Sharp tried to buy a new home, the loan officer had some bad news. There was a problem with his credit.
I didn't know what they could possibly be talking about, and I just— I was in complete shock.
Brandon's credit report was littered with unpaid medical bills totaling thousands of dollars.
I have always had insurance through my company, and if I ever needed to go to an emergency room, it would be covered, and I have never done that and not paid a bill.
Turns out Brandon was the victim of medical ID theft.
I have no idea where my identity could have been stolen.
Someone used his Social Security number to get medical care. One of the bills was for a medical helicopter totaling more than $19,000. If medical ID theft happens to you, you're screwed. Robert Siciliano is CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com. He says that medical ID theft is a serious and growing problem.
Any type of medical procedures that you can think of, someone can get under your name.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, more than 200,000 people fall victim to medical ID theft each year. This form of ID theft can wreak havoc on a victim. It can lead to changes in your insurance rates, changes to your credit report, even changes to your medical file.
Which means that if this person has allergies to certain medications, if they have certain, uh, health ailments, that is going to show up on your medical record and affect your ability to get health insurance.
Shouldn't somebody be checking to make sure you are who you are when you go to the hospital?
There's no question about it.
Siciliano says hospitals and doctors' offices score about a C- when it comes to identifying and authenticating patients when they check in. Now if I can have you lift up your palm and come back one more time. But some hospitals, like this medical center in North Carolina, are now using high-tech tools at check-in to prevent fraud. Patients wave their hands over a scanner and their medical history is retrieved instantly and their identification is verified. Alrighty, thank you, sir.
This one's for $187. This is another $187.
Brandon Sharp says he has been hounded by debt collectors because of unpaid medical bills and clearing his name has been tough.
I feel, you know, violated, like someone's in my life that shouldn't be and doing things that I wouldn't normally do in my life.
To protect yourself from medical ID theft, here are a few things you can do. First, check the explanation of benefits when you get it in the mail, line by line, to make sure it's correct. Don't just throw it away. And if your wallet is stolen, notify your insurance company that your insurance card is gone and someone may try to use it. Maggie?
But if this does happen to you, as we heard so eloquently in your piece, you're screwed. For how long?
You know, in some cases it can take months Years. Our expert said sometimes it's a lifetime. You may never get rid of this if this person keeps using your ID to get medical treatment.
It's tough. Wow.
Susan Kopin, thank you. And to learn more about protecting yourself from identity fraud, head for our website. It's earlyshow.cbsnews.com.
