National Organization for Victim Assistance - Nova

When does identity theft become a violent crime?  When it ends in rape.  At a recent NOVA Identity Theft Summit, Dr. Will Marling, Executive Director, was approached by a woman, we'll call her "Linda".  She explained how her identity had been stolen.  The thief hacked into her profile on a popular social networking site and began to meet strangers online as Linda.  The thief then gave a stranger Linda's actual home address and invited him over.  Based on online conversations, this stranger decided he wanted to meet her face-to-face. He entered Linda's home and raped her. 

NOVA has recognized that the crime of identity theft is a growing problem through an increase in the number of victims calling into our toll-free victim assistance helpline.  NOVA responds to these calls with resources and remediation assistance, but we want to do more.  We don't want to ever have another victim like Linda, so we have developed extensive Identity Theft Training for consumers.  We train advocates and law enforcement officials, who then train community members, who train the consumers in their network.  When NOVA trains 100 Trainers, the result can be 150,000 consumers educated on how to better protect their identity and personal on-line information.

 Your donations to NOVA always fund the important work we do, that is so vital in victims’ lives.  As with every year, in 2011 NOVA has had a huge impact across the country.    

*We have provided Crisis Response Teams to many crimes and crises including:

• Responders to January shooting in Tucson, Arizona, 19 shot, 6 killed.
• Tornado in Joplin, Missouri, killing 150, leaving thousands homeless.
• IHOP Shooting in Carson City, Nevada, 4 killed, 8 wounded.
• Plane crash at Reno, Nevada Air Show, killing 11, more than 69 injured.  

 

*72% of the thousands of calls received by our NOVA helpline (800-TryNOVA) were from victims who received assistance in crisis intervention and referrals.

*92% of every dollar received goes directly to victim assistance programs!

*Thousands have been trained in Basic and Advanced Crisis Response Trainings, Crime Victimization Sensitivity Trainings, and Seal of Approval Trainings.

*Trained hundreds of advocates and law enforcement officials in 15 Identity Theft Summits.

*Developed Consumer Identity Theft Training. When NOVA trains 100 Trainers, the result can be 150,000 consumers educated on how to better protect their identity and personal on-line information.

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