KWES NewsWest 9 / Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, TX: newswest9.com | New Mexico ranks 6th for identity theft

New Mexico ranks 6th for identity theft

Associated Press - March 13, 2010 2:05 PM ET

FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico has a big problem with identity theft. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the state ranks sixth nationally in the number of cases of people stealing identity.

Officer Jerry Worrell said at least one person every day reports an incident of identity theft to Farmington police.

Identity theft occurs when someone uses another person's information without permission to commit a crime.

Various forms of identity theft include credit, medical and criminal identity theft.

People can protect themselves from potential identity theft by shredding documents, verifying sources before releasing information, guarding who gets personal information and checking credit reports often.

On The Net:

http://www.ftc.gov.

Information from: The Daily Times, http://www.daily-times.com

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