The Change Mariner

Secret Service Helps Police on Identity Fraud

WOTV

Stolen credit card and Social Security numbers. Check fraud. Drained bank accounts. Ruined credit. Nightmares for victims, identity crimes also can be vexing to local police departments trying to unravel the crimes.

To help local police officers better understand and investigate these crimes, an electronic package is being mailed out Tuesday to more than 40,000 police departments and other law enforcement authorities, the Secret Service said Monday.

... Complaints about identity theft were at the head of the government's list of consumer frauds in 2002 for a third consecutive year. Experts blame easily available technology.