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Claim forms stemming from ChoicePoint debacle go out

FTC is mailing forms to consumers who believe they were victims of identity theft.

Dawn Kawamoto Former Staff writer, CNET News
Dawn Kawamoto covered enterprise security and financial news relating to technology for CNET News.
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Dawn Kawamoto
The Federal Trade Commission has begun mailing claim forms to more than 1,400 consumers involved in the ChoicePoint identity theft debacle.

The claim forms stem from a $15 million FTC settlement with ChoicePoint over allegations the data broker's security and record-handling procedures violated consumers' privacy rights and federal laws.

Last year, ChoicePoint acknowledged that more than 163,000 consumers had their personal information compromised when the company inadvertently sold the data to identity thieves. In January, ChoicePoint reached a settlement with the FTC, in which it would pay $10 million in civil penalties and $5 million for consumer redress.

Although the FTC is mailing out reimbursement claims to consumers who believe they have suffered out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the ChoicePoint debacle, it is also providing claim forms that can be downloaded.

The deadline for submitting claim forms is February 4.