John Kuo doesn’t need to be warned about the hazards of identity theft. Kuo, head of the state Motor Vehicle Administration, had it happen to him about 12 years when renters at his former home got credit cards in his name.
With 3.8 million people holding Maryland driver’s licenses, the MVA has put a number of programs in place to protect the integrity of these basic identification cards and guard the information that it gathers from its customers.
Two years ago, MVA began issuing licenses that are “completely digital,” Kuo said, “more like a credit card.” The older card was “pretty easy to replicate.”
The new card has several types of holograms and other security features state officials will not disclose. On the back, it also has a two-dimensional bar code.
“They’re not going to be able to duplicate that,” Kuo said.
In reviewing the documents to issue the cards, the MVA also has various kinds of authentication equipment, including infrared scanners that can detect alterations in documents like passports and birth certificates.
All the MVA computers that can access its vast database have multiple layers of security, including biometric devices that can read an operator’s thumbprint. But despite all the safeguards, a special identity theft unit gets about 700 calls a month.
“Most identity theft is perpetrated by friends and relatives,” Kuo said.
“It’s generally someone who knows you and you know them and they have some access to personal information,” said Buel Young of the MVA.
Oftentimes, the people are involved in traffic incidents and “they find out about citations they didn’t know about.”
As far as Young knows, no MVA employee has been found involved in any identity theft schemes using driver data. But some MVA employees have been fired and prosecuted for being involved in fraudulent attempts to obtain driver’s licenses.
The MVA also has posters throughout its building promoting an Integrity Hot line to which any member of the public or staff can report suspicious activity. Calls are treated confidentially and anonymously by a third-party contractor. The number is 800-296-4709 or e-mail at [email protected].
