Identity Theft Up in Idaho

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (AP) — Numbers from the Federal Trade Commission show identity theft is increasing in Idaho and nationwide. The most complaints of identity theft in the Gem State came from Boise, followed by Coeur d'Alene and Idaho Falls.

Idaho Falls Police Sgt. Phil Grimes told the Post Register that that his department has seen all manner of the crime, from people stealing social security numbers, filing fraudulent tax returns or using credit cards that belong to someone else.

The state tallied 905 complaints in 2012, more than a 37 percent increase from the previous year. Nationwide there were nearly 370,000 complaints last year, up 30 percent from 2011.