Puerto Rico-born citizens are 40% more likely to have their identity stolen!

FACT – hundreds of thousands of original Puerto Rico Birth Certificates have been stored without adequate security, making them an easy target for theft according to a recent article put out by the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration.

Because of the common Hispanic names of most individuals, these birth certificates have been highly desirable on the black market, and being sold for up to $10,000 each. They are then subsequently used to illegally obtain passports, licenses, and other government and private sector documentation or benefits. This is causing Puerto Rico-born citizens to be more vulnerable to identity theft, ruined credit and stolen Social Security benefits, just to name a few.

Besides the enormous risk to all American citizens, there is a significant concern for homeland and national security against criminals. Therefore, the U.S. Department of State (DOS), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have collaborated with the government of Puerto Rico to enact a new law to better protect the public from fraud and identity theft.

To summarize the new Law 191: on July 1^st, 2010 all birth certificates that had been issued by the Puerto Rico Health Department will be invalid. On that same day, the Vital Statistics Record Office will begin issuing new birth certificates.

Final Note – identity theft is an expensive legal issue that is continuing to grow, with no end in sight. Although it is not possible to avoid being a victim, individuals can still be proactive and get their line of defense ready for battle when struck by an attack. One way to prepare would be to have a membership that is offered through PrePaid Legal Services which is combined with an Identity Theft Shield product.

Excluding the ‘final note’, this post is a summarized version of a three page article which contains further details, frequently asked questions, as well as information on who to contact and how to obtain the new birth certificates being issued. Click here to see the full article in English or Spanish.