How to Comply With the Patriot Act

The "USA Patriot Act" is actually an acronym for "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism." The Patriot Act is a law passed in 2001 to tighten up both domestic and international security after the terrorist attacks on September 11 of that same year. Financial institutions have had to institute new procedures that verify the identities of their customers in order to comply with the law. The average citizen need only be truthful and forthcoming about his activities in order to comply with the Patriot Act.

Things You'll Need

• Photo identification
• Social security number
• Patriot Act compliance software
• Attorney

Instructions

1. Carry a form of identification with your photograph on it at all times, such as a driver's license or a state ID card. To comply with the Patriot Act, you must to be able to prove you are who you claim to be when you apply for jobs, new bank accounts and possibly other activities.

2. Apply for a social security card in the rare event that you do not already have one. Commit the number to memory so you can accurately give the information when needed. A social security number is a unique identifier that can be used to check your background, if needed.

3. Answer all questions regarding your identity, address and criminal background truthfully on official applications for employment, loans and the like. Financial institutions often use compliance software to verify your information and to be certain your name does not appear on lists of suspected terrorists. Lying about your identifying factors is failing to comply with the heightened security measures detailed by the Patriot Act.

4. Offer up your phone, email, financial and medical records to the authorities if you happen to become even remotely involved in a suspicious situation. This could mean that the government has placed a "red flag" on someone who lives on your street or has a similar name, and does not necessarily mean that you are a suspect. The Patriot Act allows the government to seize these records for its investigation of any situation that could possibly signify a terrorist plot.

5. Purchase compliance software if you are a business owner who opens financial accounts for customers. The Patriot Act created a new "compliance industry" that helps businesses comply with the laws without re-inventing the wheel.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult an attorney before you hand over documents or records for investigative purposes. Although you want to comply with the laws, a lawyer can advise you of your rights within those laws.