Fraud in the Badger State

Individual and corporate victims of identity theft crimes, as well as the businesses that can help protect the information that make the crimes possible, are trading ideas in Wisconsin’s state capital to help combat identity theft.

According to a report in the Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, the Professional Insurance Agents of Wisconsin is one trade group that has provided input to legislators and regulators in the state as they prepare to address the growing problem of identity theft.

That group’s member benefits coordinator, Heather Falk, is among the Badger State’s growing roster of identity theft victims. Falk reported that she learned her identity had been stolen when she was denied while requesting a Home Depot credit card. “I thought it was odd and my boss suggested I get a copy of my credit report. I was shocked. There were pages upon pages of credit activity,” Falk tells the State Journal.

A recent comprehensive report on identity theft prepared by the Federal Trade Commission shows that incidents of identity theft in Wisconsin rose by 31 percent in 2003, when more than 2,300 incidents were reported, up from fewer than 1,800 in 2002.

Ron Von Haden, executive vice president of the Professional Insurance Agents of Wisconsin, urges the state’s residents to check their credit reports at least annually.

Wisconsin is among the states that may soon enact measures to encourage or mandate the shredding of documents being disposed of by businesses, government agencies and institutions.