Identity Theft Concerns? Contact IRIS.
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2007-06-07 17:33:55.406292-04:00
Victims of identity theft not only lose their good name and good credit—they also spend hundreds of hours trying to undo the damage these thieves may cause to their financial accounts, employment records, credit history, and more. It can also be a bureaucratic nightmare trying to navigate the legal system addressing this crime.
To help ease this burden and help law enforcement track identity theft crimes, the Utah Attorney General's Office created the Identity theft Reporting Information System, or "IRIS."
Only about one-third of identity theft crimes are reported to law enforcement. This not only hurts victims in their attempt to restore their credit standing—it also hinders officials who try to investigate and stop thieves from operating. IRIS is a "one-stop" shop for reporting identity theft, where a victim's report will be sent to all relevant law enforcement bodies.
While it is not always possible for provide remedies for every crime victim, being able to track, prevent and deter theft will help decrease the number of future victims, now estimated at ten million per year nationwide.
IRIS also provides identity theft education, prevention tips, legislative information, and reports of known identity theft scams to help more consumers from being victims.
AARP Utah is a sponsor of IRIS and encourages any consumer concerned about identity theft—and particularly those who fear they are already a victim—to visit the IRIS Web site.
preview