For more information about protecting yourself from identity theft, Jane Wheeler of the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit suggests going to the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Web site.
www.tulsaworld.com/ftcidtheft

Critics of new court rules cite a survey on the source of fraud.

Most identity thieves obtain personal information from stolen or lost wallets, purses and mail, according to police and a national survey.

The 2006 Identity Fraud Survey Report that was co-released by the Better Business Bureau did not cite the abuse of public records as a significant source of identity theft, authorities said.

That's why critics say the Oklahoma Supreme Court's new rules that restrict access to online records and legal documents goes too far.

The rules, which take ef fect June 10, require litigants to redact personal identifying information, such as birth dates, Social Security numbers and home addresses, from paper documents that are filed with the courts.

The rules also take offline many court records that currently are available via the Internet.

Supporters say the move protects personal information, especially from identity theft.

Joey Senat, past president of Freedom of Information Oklahoma, has forwarded a letter to the Oklahoma Supreme Court from

In that letter, McKenna uses a report on the 2006 Identity Fraud Survey to argue against exempting dates of birth from public disclosure.

''I think it shows that dates of birth are not private,'' Senat said. "They are personal, but personal and private are not necessarily the same thing. Here is a legal authority -- a Republican attorney general -- saying that."

According to the survey, in cases where the source of the information is known, 30 percent of the identity-theft cases resulted from lost or stolen wallets, credit or debit cards, or checkbooks.

Another 15 percent involved information that was stolen by trusted associates, such as friends, family, employees and neighbors. About 9 percent of information used came from stolen mail or garbage, and another 9 percent resulted from hacking home computers, the survey shows.

Even if dates of birth are redacted from court records, they are still available in plac es such as voter records and police records, Senat said.

''Dates of birth and home addresses are found in a slew of other public records. They are just readily available,'' he said.

Cpl. Gary Bradley, a supervisor in the Tulsa Police Department unit that investigates forgery and fraud, also said most identity theft cases that police investigate result from the theft or loss of wallets, purses or mail.

He said he has not heard of cases in Tulsa where someone's identity was stolen from court records, but he also noted that in many cases the source of the information is not known.

In 2007, Tulsa police had 898 cases classified as identity theft.

But Bradley said that figure is somewhat misleading. Many other cases that involve identity theft may start as reports such as larcenies -- when checks are stolen -- or unauthorized use of a stolen credit card.

''There are likely twice -- maybe three times -- that number,'' Bradley said.

Senat said the new court rules would hinder important records searches that could affect many people. For example, they could limit court records searches that people might conduct on neighbors or potential employees.

Conceivably, a person with a common name might be inadvertently confused with someone who has a criminal record.

''It is cutting out a lot of good to avoid a possible bad. Make it easier to protect privacy, and make punishment much harsher for identity theft,'' Senat said. ''Lots of people put these records to good use and are being penalized for the possible wrongs of others.''

Nicole Marshall 581-8459
nicole.marshall@tulsaworld.com

Comments sought

The Oklahoma Supreme Court wants Oklahoma residents’ input on its recently adopted rules restricting access to online records and legal documents. To comment on the rules, contact Mike Evans, administrative director of the courts, by e-mail at michael.evans@oscn.net or by mail at Oklahoma State Courts Network, Administrative Office of the Courts, 1915 N. Stiles, Suite 305, Oklahoma City, OK 73105.