A name, birth date, Social Security number or other identifying information is all a thief needs to become someone else just long enough to ruin good credit scores and break the bank.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office has implemented a comprehensive guide to helping people avoid becoming victims of identity theft. It also offers information on what to do if identity theft occurs.

West Frankfort Police Chief Jeff Tharp said identity theft has been on the rise.

"People shouldn't just put their personal papers or papers with confidential information into the trash," he said. "You should burn them or shred them. At a minimum, people should do an annual credit report on themselves."

The attorney general warns the public that ID theft can occur in a number of ways, including hacking into computers for records, getting personal information from a victim's employer, stealing a purse or stealing personal information from trash or inside a victim's home.

Tharp said he's seen situations in which family members assume the identity of relatives and start up credit card accounts.

"Or, a lot of times we see that people acquire information on others during burglaries," he said. "Mail theft would be another situation where people acquire that type of information."

Madigan's office offers the public online resources about how to detect identify theft and a hotline number to call if theft is suspected.

The attorney general's Web site says thieves use people's personal information to charge credit cards, establish services for utilities, open bank accounts, file bankruptcy, or get a job or driver's license. In some instances, thieves even use other people's names during arrests.

Officer Randy Mathis of the Carbondale Police Department said the best thing people can do is take extra steps to monitor their credit.

"It gives you an early opportunity, in some cases, to see where your identity has been used rather than five years down the road," he said. "That's the best thing you can do."

The Federal Trade Commission reports that in 2006, 25 percent of identity theft was used to gain a credit card. Phone, bank and employment fraud followed closely behind. The majority of people complaining of being victims of identity theft were between 18 and 29 years old. The least amount was in age groups of between 60 and 64 years old.

In 2006, Illinois was ranked 12th in terms of the most thefts reported per 100,000 populations. Arizona, Nevada, California, Texas and Florida made up the top five on the list.

tara.fasol@thesouthern.com / 351-5824

More info

Victims of identity theft can call (866) 999-5630 to get help from Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office. Information is also available at www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov.