DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate has accepted an appointment to chair the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Business ID Theft Task Force, along with North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall. Identity theft is one of the most difficult security issues a company may face.

"I am extremely pleased to co-chair this task force. Business ID theft is a very serious issue across the country and requires a joint effort to combat it," Secretary Pate said. "We will work to develop best practices and provide guidance for business in Iowa and around the U.S. in how to protect their company against ID theft scams."

Breaches can cause significant damage to a company's relationship with customers and employees. The goal of the NASS Task Force is to develop practical, cost-effective tools to help states and businesses combat the growing threat of business identity theft.

The NASS Business ID Theft Task Force is a major association initiative that was first developed in 2011. Comprised of Secretaries of State from across the nation, the Task Force will work with a wide array of industry stakeholders, including state legislators, law enforcement, business support groups and financial institutions to develop a cohesive strategy aimed at preventing businesses throughout the nation from becoming victims of business identity theft schemes.

An excellent resource for business owners is the BusinessIDTheft.org website. The site is maintained by NASS and the Identity Theft Protection Association. It provides guidance that all U.S. businesses can utilize. Secretaries of State can be part of the collective effort to prevent businesses throughout the nation from becoming victims of business identity theft schemes by having a strategy in place and working together with law enforcement, the business community, and the private sector.

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