OGDEN -- It's a danger to everyone, including children, students and seniors, and while the concept of identity theft is nothing new for most, Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff wants to help people protect themselves from the problem."It's important because every element in our society is under attack," said Scott Troxel, deputy communications director for the Utah Attorney General's Office. "Anyone who has a Social Security number is at risk."
Shurtleff is visiting college campuses throughout the state, informing people about the dangers of identity theft and how to prevent it from happening to them.
Shurtleff and identity-theft expert Scott Morrill will give a presentation from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday in Weber State University's Shepherd Union Building, Room 404.
While the presentation is being conducted at a college campus, Troxel said, it is open to the public, not just WSU students.
"We don't want to target one group more than any others," he said. "We want to get the word out to everyone."
Troxel said they chose college campuses because many young people don't feel they could become victims and because the campuses are convenient places to hold presentations on the risks of identity theft.
"The younger generation kind of have this indestructible mentality," he said. "(They) don't feel like everything they do, they are at risk."
The presentation will also help inform the public about the latest tools the state is using to report and pursue identity-theft cases.
A free document-shredding service will also be available to the public from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the same location as the presentation for anyone who wants to dispose of any sensitive documents, such as junk mail, bills or credit cards.
"These things need to be properly disposed of," Troxel said. "Just be cautious and know that these risks aren't going away. They are only getting more and more pervasive."
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