OSHP: Increase in identity theft is ‘alarming’

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

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 with 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.

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