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Identity theft on the rise in long-term care

LTC Liability Monitor, September 15, 2005

Residents of SNFs and assisted living facilities are among the most vulnerable targets for identity theft, and crimes of this kind are on the rise, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Ron Tenpas, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, told the Post-Dispatch that a combination of low-paying jobs, a level of needed trust with residents, and being privy to an abundance of confidential information make it easier for workers to commit identity theft crimes in long-term care facilities.

In the St. Louis area, recent identity theft cases in long-term care wrought more than $158,000 in fraudulent charges, with nurses, resident coordinators, and customer service workers all found guilty, the Post-Dispatch reported.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) maintains a round-the-clock identity theft hotline, 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338), and an informational Web site, http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/. Most states have specific hotlines as well. The FTC recommends that SNFs place stricter guidelines on employees who handle sensitive information, and more closely monitor workers' computer activity.

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