Utah cracking down on ID theft

Mailbox pillagers, check washers and fake ID manufacturers take note: Utah law enforcement officers have taken an increased interest in you.

A handful of state and federal agencies announced Thursday the creation of a new task force dedicated to combating identity theft in Utah.

One in every nine adults can expect to be a victim of identity theft at some point, U.S. Attorney for Utah Paul Warner said, and Utahns in particular are at a higher risk than residents of other states.

The Identity Theft Task Force will focus on two main points: teaching people how to protect themselves from becoming victims and arresting and prosecuting those who commit identity crimes.

"In the area of identity theft, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," Warner said. "But I can guarantee you that we are going to go after this with more than a pound of cure."

On Thursday, a federal grand jury indicted 25 alleged identity thieves on various charges, including bank fraud, identity fraud and possession of stolen mail. Combined, the Utahns are accused of stealing more than $300,000 in cash and goods.

Identity theft is believed to have cost American corporations more than $40 billion and individuals some $5 billion in 2003 alone, Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said.

"Identity theft is and will become the fastest-growing crime in the world," Shurtleff said. "In order to combat this, we all have to get involved."

Shurtleff's office hopes to soon launch an online database that will provide law enforcers and identity theft victims a clearinghouse of information, including tips on tackling the onerous task of clearing one's credit record after being victimized.

"We want to be able to help (victims) as soon as possible, as quickly and cheaply as possible, clear their good name," Shurtleff said.

Utahns can avoid becoming victims in the first place by taking some simple steps to protect their privacy and avoid being targeted by identity thieves, said Bob Maes, a postal inspector with the U.S. Postal Service.

Things such as not leaving your wallet in your vehicle, taking care when giving out personal information over the telephone or Internet, mailing bills at the post office and buying a locking mailbox for your home can go a long way to decreasing your vulnerability, Maes said.

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E-mail: awelling@desnews.com