Identity-theft facts

• As many as 9 million Americans' identities are stolen each year, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

• About 132,000 Utahns' Social Security numbers were compromised in 2000.

• More recently, the Department of Workforce Services reported some 20,000 clients' identities had possibly been compromised.

• During one quarter in 2005, some 3,500 of those possible victims were children.

• The U.S. Attorney's Office in Utah has prosecuted at least 50 identity-theft cases in the last year. Bank fraud is the most common type. Also prevalent is mail theft and using a fraudulent Social Security number to apply for a job or credit card.

• Some 90 percent of the cases that Utah Assistant Attorney General Richard Hamp sees involve Social Security number theft.