"Identity theft is a serious crime that affects millions of New Yorkers every year. The more information made available to New York's consumers, the more educated they will be in how to protect their personal information," said the Governor. "I would like to thank CPB Executive Director Mindy A. Bockstein, the New York Giants and Amani Toomer for championing this cause. By getting the word out on identity theft, New York can reduce the number of victims of this insidious crime."
Identity theft is the most common consumer fraud complaint in the United States, affecting approximately ten million Americans each year. New York is sixth per capita in identity theft complaints in the nation, with nearly 20,000 complaints filed with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2007. Last year, as a result of fraud, New York consumers reported paying $46,103,842; a $5 million increase from the $41,798,588 reported in 2006. As such, defeating identity thieves is a top priority for the Governor, the CPB and the New York Giants.
The Amani Toomer identity theft public service announcement (PSA) will run statewide -- on television and radio -- beginning Monday, October 27, 2008. The PSA can also be heard or viewed on both the New York Giants' and the CPB's websites. The PSA will be followed by an identity theft workshop for law enforcement, a podcast featuring tips for consumers and more from the CPB. For more details on the workshop and podcast, please visit the CPB's website.
New York Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer said: "The New York Giants is proud to co-sponsor this campaign to help raise awareness about identity theft. In raising awareness about identity theft, we are tackling a growing crime that affects millions of people. We salute Governor Paterson and the Consumer Protection Board for its proactive approach to protecting consumers, and join with them in advising consumers not to get sidelined by identity theft.
