Ohio Highway Patrol: ID Theft Increase ‘Alarming’

Ohio Highway Patrol troopers say they’re seeing an “alarming” increase in cases of identity theft.

The patrol says it has investigated 248 cases so far this year, compared to 114 by this time in 2009. The cases involve fraudulent identification discovered by troopers during traffic stops and at driver license exam stations.

The patrol also says the Bureau of Motor Vehicles receives about 4,000 phony documents each year from people seeking driver licenses, state ID cards and vehicle registrations.

Investigators say they believe more people are attempting to use or create bogus documentation as part of a nearly $10 billion identity theft business for organized crime. They also say some of the fraud may be the work of wanted felons attempting to avoid capture.