Now -- how do we get consumer protection laws that make it clear that a consumer is not liable for any debts incurred by someone claiming to be him/her ...

Having recently been on the receiving end of identity theft, I'm a bit more optimistic than Carl. I solved my problem by reading the back page of the credit report, where it provided addresses of the federal agencies that regulate collection bureaus, banks, and similar organizations. Letters to the agencies resulted in one "opening a case" and, eventually, a letter of apology from the bank in question (who hadn't answered my previous requests/complaints). I used an account record book -- a bound notebook with numbered pages -- that had dated notes of every interaction I had with the banks and credit card agencies, interspersed with software notes, interesting URL's, telemarketing caller numbers, and other scribbles. This let me document my complaints with the specific dates and times that I attempted to resolve the problem. Martin Minow minow@pobox.com --- All inventions or works of authorship original to me, herein and past, are placed irrevocably in the public domain, and may be used or modified for any purpose, without permission, attribution, or notification.