Weekend I.D. Theft Blotter

The following identity theft stories appeared this week around the country:

• Harvard, Illinois bank to conduct document shredding event (see Harvard plans ID theft events),
• Is risk of I.D. theft higher if you have a common name? (see A Common Name Could Make ID Theft Easier, or watch Video - CBS4 TV, Denver; click "Play"),
• 33 states, D.C., allow consumers to place "security freeze" on credit files; more states consider similar laws (see States, Uncle Sam Combating Identity Theft),
• Links to individual laws and instructions on how consumers can file a credit freeze (see List of state laws related to data privacy),
• Texas AG sues consumer money lender for exposing customers to I.D. theft by dumping personal business records containing addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, etc., in trash bins behind stores (see Attorney General sues EZCORP over identity theft),
• Document shredding event in Montgomery (see Shredding campaign targets identity theft),
• Authorities identify illegal scanning devices installed at ATMs as key in stealing personal info in recent arrest (see Men indicted in Pa. ATM identity-theft scheme),
• Federal government exposing tens of thousands to I.D. theft risk (see Recent Cases of Missing Data, and see also Identity theft continues to haunt the American people),
• Wheeling, WV AARP group sponsors document shredding event (see Group Shreds Paper To Curb Identity Theft),
• Alleged beach thief accused of stealing identities of beachgoers who left wallets inside their cars while taking a swim (see $500,000 identity theft),
• Yonkers, NY woman used 6 month temp job at Kraft Foods to "serve up" info on 100's of co-workers to I.D. theft gang (see Macaroni & Sleaze In 'Identity Theft'),
• Victims must often solve their own crimes (see ID theft takes a toll on residents, police force - In Gwinnett, victim often must solve crime)

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