Identity Theft Odds Increasing

Experts said people are more likely to get their identities stolen than their cars stolen. That’s why local police officers spent the day in intensive training Thursday to help them spot identity theft.

LifeLock and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association put on the seminar in Louisville, showing off the new ways thieves are ripping people off.

With recent data breaches, including Epsilon’s email address leak and Sony’s hacked PlayStation network, authorities said the time to act is now.

"Criminals are always out there looking for ways to take personal information and turn it into money,” Mike Prusinski, of LifeLock, said.

Prusinski travels the country to educate law enforcement and the public about the many ways thieves work to steal personal information.

“As consumers, we make it way too easy on them,” Prusinski said.Prusinski said scammers are using new tools such as skimmers, which are easily purchased online. The electronic device can record the information from credit cards that are swiped through it. Then, an encoder can download the information so a copy of the credit card can be printed to make fraudulent purchases.

But the thief doesn’t even need your card to do it. They can use wireless technology to capture passwords and financial information as you shop online at coffee shops on your phone or laptop.

The Federal Trade Commission has a wealth of information on preventing identity theft and getting help if you’re a victim.

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