51-31 Identity Fraud - North Dakota Statutes

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CHAPTER 51-31IDENTITY FRAUD51-31-01. Definitions.1."Consumer" means an individual.2."Consumer report" has the same meaning as provided in 15 U.S.C. 1681a(d).3."Consumer reporting agency" means any person that, for monetary fees or dues or
on a cooperative nonprofit basis, regularly engages in the practice of assembling or
evaluating consumer credit information or other information on consumers for the
purpose of furnishing consumer reports to third parties, and which uses any means
or facility of interstate or intrastate commerce for the purpose of preparing or
furnishing consumer reports. The term does not include an agency that compiles
and maintains files on consumers on a nationwide basis, as described in 15 U.S.C.
1681a(p), a "reseller" as defined in 15 U.S.C. 1681a(u), when engaged in the act of
the reselling of consumer information or other information, or a "nationwide specialty
consumer reporting agency" that maintains "check writing history" as defined in 15
U.S.C. 1681a(w)(3).4."File", when used in connection with information on any consumer, means all of the
information on that consumer reported and retained by a consumer reporting agency
regardless of how the information is stored.51-31-02. Initial fraud alerts. Upon the direct request of a consumer or an individualacting on behalf of or as a personal representative of a consumer, who asserts in good faith a
suspicion that the consumer has been or is about to become a victim of fraud or related crime,
including identity theft, a consumer reporting agency that maintains a file on the consumer and
has received appropriate proof of the identity of the requester shall include a fraud alert in the file
of that consumer. The consumer reporting agency shall continue that alert along with any credit
score generated in using that file, for a period of not less than ninety days beginning on the date
of the request, unless the consumer or the consumer's representative requests that the fraud
alert be removed before the end of the period and the agency has received appropriate proof of
the identity of the requester for that purpose.51-31-03.Extended fraud alerts.Upon the direct request of a consumer or anindividual acting on behalf of or as a personal representative of a consumer, who asserts in good
faith a suspicion that the consumer has been or is about to become a victim of fraud or related
crime, including identity theft, a consumer reporting agency that maintains a file on the consumer
and has received appropriate proof of the identity of the requester shall:1.Include a fraud alert in the file of that consumer and continue that alert along with
any credit score generated in using that file, during the seven-year period beginning
on the date of the request, unless the consumer or the consumer's representative
requests that the fraud alert be removed before the end of that period and the
agency has received appropriate proof of the identity of the requester for that
purpose; and2.During the five-year period beginning on the date of the request, exclude the
consumer from any list of consumers prepared by the consumer reporting agency
and provided to any third party to offer credit or insurance to the consumer as part of
a transaction that was not initiated by the consumer, unless the consumer or the
consumer's representative requests that the exclusion be rescinded before the end
of that period.51-31-04. Police reports - Judicial determination of factual innocence.Page No. 11.An individual who has learned or reasonably suspects that the individual's personal
identifying information has been unlawfully used by another, as described in section
12.1-23-11, may initiate a law enforcement investigation by contacting the local law
enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the individual's residence or any other
jurisdiction in which any part of the offense occurred. The law enforcement agency
shall take a report of the matter, provide the individual with a copy of that report, and
begin an investigation of the facts.If the suspected crime was committed in adifferent jurisdiction, the local law enforcement agency may refer the matter to the
law enforcement agency where the suspected crime was committed for further
investigation of the facts.2.An individual who reasonably believes that the individual is the victim of identity theft
may petition the district court in the county in which the alleged victim resides or in
which the identity theft is alleged to have occurred, or the court, on its own motion or
upon application of the state's attorney, may move for an expedited judicial
determination of the individual's factual innocence, if the perpetrator of the identity
theft was arrested, cited, or convicted of a crime under the victim's identity, if a
criminal complaint has been filed against the perpetrator in the victim's name, or if
the victim's identity has been mistakenly associated with a record of criminal
conviction. Any judicial determination of factual innocence made under this section
may be heard and determined upon declarations, affidavits, police reports, or other
material, relevant, and reliable information submitted by the parties or ordered to be
part of the record by the court. If the court determines that the petition or motion is
meritorious and that there is no reasonable cause to believe that the victim
committed the offense for which the perpetrator of the identity theft was arrested,
cited, convicted, or subject to a criminal complaint in the victim's name, or that the
victim's identity has been mistakenly associated with a record of criminal conviction,
the court shall find the victim factually innocent of that offense. If the victim is found
factually innocent, the court shall issue an order certifying that determination.3.After a court has issued a determination of factual innocence under this section, the
court may order the name and associated personal identifying information contained
in court records, files, and indexes accessible by the public deleted, sealed, or
labeled to show that the data is impersonated and does not reflect the defendant's
identity.4.A court that has issued a determination of factual innocence under this section may
vacate that determination if the petition or any information submitted in support of
the petition is found to contain any material misrepresentation or fraud.51-31-05. Enforcement - Powers - Remedies - Penalties. The attorney general mayenforce this chapter. In enforcing this chapter, the attorney general has all the powers provided
in this chapter or chapter 51-15 and may seek all remedies in this chapter or chapter 51-15. A
violation of this chapter constitutes a violation of chapter 51-15.The remedies, duties,prohibitions, and penalties of this chapter are not exclusive and are in addition to all other causes
of action, remedies, and penalties as provided in chapter 51-15 and as otherwise provided by
law.Page No. 2Document Outlinechapter 51-31 identity fraud