Method and apparatus for insuring an insured from identity theft peril and identity reclamation and credit restoration

• US 20020173994A1
• Filed: 05/21/2001
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Joseph M. Ferguson III
• Original Assignee: Joseph M. Ferguson III
• Inventors: Ferguson, Joseph M. III
• Application Number:
  US09/862,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20020173994A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/403 Solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A method of insuring an insured for identity theft peril. The method includes submitting a claim of identity theft by an insured to an insurer. Thereafter, the method includes the step of investigating the claim of the identity theft peril to verify the identity theft peril. In response to the identity theft being verified, the method includes performing an identity reclamation and a credit restoration process. Further, in response to the identity theft being verified, identifying monetary loss by the insured. Thereafter, dispersing the insurance benefit having a value proportional to the monetary loss. The present invention includes a method for identity reclamation and credit restoration which includes the establishment of a variety of databases having form letter shells for a population of credit bureaus, a population of credit card issuers, a population of financial banking institutions, and a population of utility companies, retailers and other specialty merchants.

Claims

1. A method of insuring an insured for identity theft peril comprising the steps of:

(a) submitting a claim of identity theft by an insured to an insurer;

(b) investigate the claim of the identity theft to verify the identity theft;

(c) in response to the identity theft being verified, performing an identity reclamation and credit restoration process; and

(d) in response to the identity theft being verified, identifying monetary loss by the insured; and

,

(e) dispersing the insurance benefit having a value proportional to the monetary loss.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (c) includes the steps of:

(c1) communicating a certified notification of the identity theft to law enforcement agencies and court systems.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (c) includes the steps of:

(c1) communicating a certified notification including submission of information for filing a police report of the identity theft for all identity theft modalities.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (c) includes the steps of:

(c1) communicating a certified notification to the Social Security Administration.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (c) includes the steps of:

(c1) communicating a certified notification to specialty merchants;

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (c) includes the steps of:

(c1) communicating a certified notification to credit reporting bureaus;

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (c) includes the steps of:

(c1) communicating a certified notification to credit card issuers

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (c) includes the steps of:

(c1) communicating a certified notification to division of motor vehicles or other government personal identification issuers

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the certified notification includes notification to cease selling of the identity.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (c) includes the steps of:

(c1) communicating a certified notification to direct marketing associations to cease and desist in the marketing of the stolen identity.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (d) includes the steps of:

(d1) identifying a total of credit card liability (CCL);

(d2) identifying a ATM loss or liability (ATML);

(d3) identifying a fraudulent check total (CKT); and

(d4) identifying a non-monetary damage amount (NMD).

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (d) includes the steps of:

(d1) calculating a value representative of a lost wages; and

(d2) calculating a value representative of out-of-pocket expenses.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the out-of-pocket expenses includes check canceling fees;

check ordering fee for new account activation.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the out-of-pocket expenses includes attorney'"'"'s fees.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the out-of-pocket expenses includes a bond fee.

16. The method of claim 1, further includes prior to step (a) the steps of:

(f) determining a crediting rating for a prospect;

(g) determining an income for the prospect;

(h) determining a deductible;

(i) evaluate the risk associated with the prospect based on the credit rating and the income; and

,

(j) calculating a premium for insuring the prospect as the insured.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising prior to step (h) the steps of:

(k) evaluating the prospect for pre-existing identity theft.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(f) performing a identity maintenance procedure to maintain the reclaimed identity of the insured.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (f) includes the steps of:

(f1) requesting of credit reports from credit reporting bureaus;

(f2) evaluating of the credit reports including abnormal patterns of credit requests and established accounts; and

,

(f3) communication of the credit reports to the insured and results of the evaluation.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (c) includes the steps of:

(c1) establishing a red-flag account.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (c) includes the steps of:

(c1) establishing a red-flag account including communicating certified red-flag forms to credit issuers.

22. A method of identity reclamation and credit restoration comprising the steps of:

(a) populating storage media with form letter shells and addresses for a population of law enforcement agencies, a population of credit reporting bureaus, a population of credit card issuers, and a population of financial banking institutions;

(b) populating storage media with identity data representative of an identity of a person;

(c) determining an incident of identity theft of said person;

(d) in response to step (c), accessing the storage media and retrieving a respective form letter shell and address;

(e) automatically populating the respective form letter shell with the address and with at least part of the identity data to form an incident letter; and

,

(f) communicating the incident letter to the address to reclaim the identity and restore the credit of the person.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of:

(g) repeating steps (d), (e) and (f) for the remaining form letter shells and addresses for the population of law enforcement agencies, the population of credit reporting bureaus, the population of credit card issuers, and the population of financial banking institutions.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the communicating includes certified mailing via the U.S. Postal Service.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the communicating includes e-mailing or faxing.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein:

the step (a) further includes the step of;

(a1) populating storage media with form letter shells and addresses for a population of divisions of motor vehicles or other government personal identification issuers; and

,

further comprising the step of;

(g) repeating steps (d), (e) and (f) for the form letter shells and addresses for the population of the divisions of motor vehicles or the other government personal identification issuers.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the form letter shell is populated with notification to each division of motor vehicles to cease selling of information related to the stolen identity.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein:

the step (a) further includes the step of;

(a1) populating storage media with form letter shells and addresses for a population of specialty merchants, a population of utility companies and a population of retailers; and

,

further comprising the step of;

(g) repeating steps (d), (e) and (f) for the form letter shells and addresses for the population of specialty merchants, the population of utility companies and the population of retailers.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein:

the step (a) further includes the step of;

(a1) populating storage media with form letter shells and addresses for a population of direct marketing associations; and

,

further comprising the step of;

(g) repeating steps (d), (e) and (f) for the form letter shells and addresses for the population of direct marketing associations.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein form letter shell is populated with notification to each direct marketing associations to cease and desist in the marketing of the stolen identity.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein:

the step (a) further includes the step of;

(a1) populating storage media with form letter shells to establish a red-flag account with the population of credit bureaus and credit card issuers; and

,

further comprising the step of;

(g) repeating steps (d), (e) and (f) for the form letter shells for the red-flag account.

32. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

(g) request reported earnings from the Social Security Administration.

33. The method of CLAIM I, wherein the step (d) includes the steps of:

identity established credit card accounts by imposter;

canceling the established credit card accounts.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the said required information comprises the type and form of information required by the ICIA to assist in identity reclamation and credit restoration.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising the steps of:

(b) obtaining a list of ICIAs related to an incident of identity theft;

(c) parsing the ICIA database with the list of creditors; and

(d) obtaining a list of needed information from said parsing.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising the steps of:

(e) obtaining an identity file for an individual relating to their identity;

(f) filling in needed information from said identity file; and

(g) preparing forms for each said ICIA in said list of ICIA related to an incident of identity theft.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising the steps of:

(h) transmitting the ICIA form, if complete and in proper form, to said ICIA;

or

(i) requesting needed information or proper form if not complete.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said apparatus further has;

an identity file providing data regarding the individuals identity; and

wherein said computer system further has a form incorporation code capable of incorporating data from said identity file where requested and/or needed by said action item list.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said apparatus further has;

an automated transmission capabilities, wherein said transmission capabilities comprises mail, facsimile, electronic transmission, and video capabilities.

34. A method of identity reclamation and credit restoration through an Identity/Credit Interested Agency (“

ICIA”

) database for comprising the steps of;

(a) populating an ICIA database with the required information for a plurality of ICIAs.

39. An apparatus for identity reclamation and credit restoration comprising:

a creditor database having the type and form of information required by an Identity/Credit Interested Agency (“

ICIA”

) to assist in identity reclamation and credit restoration;

a computer system having;

an obtaining software code capable of obtaining a list of creditors related to an identity theft incident,

an ICIA parsing software code capable of parsing said creditor database with said list of creditors and obtaining an action item list having the type and form of required information for said identity theft incident, and

a providing software code for providing said action item list.

42. A computer readable medium capable of performing the steps of:

(a) populating an Identity/Credit Interested Agency (“

ICIA”

) database having the type and form of information required by the ICIA to assist in identity reclamation and credit restoration;

(b) obtaining a list of ICIAs related to an identity theft incident;

(c) parsing said ICIA with said list of ICIAs and obtaining an action item list having the type and form of required information for said identity theft incident.

43. The medium of claim 42 further capable of performing the step of:

(d) providing said action item list.