Police
& Businesses Band Together to Help Fight Identity Theft If you've been a victim of identity theft, you know the extraordinary problems you run into trying to clear your name. Fortunately, Jed Boal tells us the state is fighting back. And that fight for all of us will soon be waged right at your computer...right where a lot of the fraud begins. Special Agents with the Utah Attorney General's office say it will take coordination to combat the crime. Protect your good name...identity fraud is the fastest growing crime in America. Stats show one in ten people become victims of identity theft...and they say it ruins their lives. Last year nearly identity thieves hit nearly 14-hundred Utahns...and the crime is largely unreported to police. The crime is high-benefit and low-risk for the bandits. Kelly Wuthrich/Special Agent, AG's Office: "THE INTERNET AGE HAS MADE IT EASIER. THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE MERCHANTS ARE HAVING A HARD TIME DRAWING THE LINE BETWEEN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SECURITY." Many of the those who would steal your good name are out for drug money...others...more technically savvy are simply out for a quick buck. On average it takes 175 hours of your time and 10-thousand dollars to clear your name. Captain Terry Powell/Attorney General's Office:" YOU REALLY DO HAVE TO WATCH WHO YOU GIVE THIS INFORMATION TO...YOU HAVE TO CLOSELY GUARD IT." 175 law enforcement officers and business leaders have gathered at a conference to fight the problem. First...we need to help ourselves. Kelly Wuthrich/Special Agent, AG's Office:" PEOPLE NEED TO PROTECT THEIR INFORMATION. IT GOES BACK TO SHREDDING YOUR DOCUMENTS, PROTECTING YOUR MAIL. JUST BE CAREFUL WITH WHO GETS YOUR INFORMATION." Businesses must prevent the use of stolen information...by knowing their customers and double checking identification. And law enforcement needs to aggressively prosecute the crimes...only one in 700 cases is ever prosecuted. Early next year the Attorney General's office will launch a website to enable victims to immediately report the crime... The report will immediately go to police, the FTC, and merchants who may have an interest in the crime. The website will be the first of its kind in the nation...and a huge step in helping us protect ourselves...and stopping the thieves. From: http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?nid=39&sid=122591 |