Website raises identity theft concern

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2003 | 11:34 a.m.

Documents filed with the Clark County Recorder's office are to be available online soon. But what would be a convenience for many has some worried about the danger of identity theft.

The documents, which include property deeds, birth, death and marriage registrations, and military discharge papers, sometimes include the three elements thieves need to steal someone's identity: Name, date of birth and Social Security number.

Michael Uhl, a Clark County air quality analyst, asked the Clark County Commission on Tuesday to keep this in mind as a computerization program goes forward.

"There's a considerable amount of concern in the community because there are particular documents that make identity theft significantly easier," Uhl told the commission.

He warned that thieves could use that information for retribution against public and law enforcement officials and said that the issue could be a national security concern.

The documents are already available as public records in the recorder's office, but the necessity now to physically go to that office makes the procedure less than desirable for would-be identity thieves. That would change if all those documents were available over the Internet, Uhl warned.

Clark County officials said they are aware of the issue and are sympathetic to the concerns. Rick Holmes, assistant county manager, said he has met a number of times with people on the issue.

A new computer system could make it easier to access information by everyone, but "the new technology will enhance our ability to address this issue."

"These comments are very legitimate questions," said Ron Cornelison, president of AmCad, the Virginia-based company doing the $5.1 million project.

One feature of the software that the company is installing allows the recorder to selectively remove information that goes online, he said. Information on birth dates and social security numbers, as well as the signatures included with the documents, could easily be removed from the online content, Cornelison said.

Metro Police Fraud Unit Detective Pete Dustin said that personal identifiers should be left out of any online database that the Recorder's office operates.

"Identity theft is the most prevalent threat we deal with," Dustin said. "Deeds and other recorded documents are public records, but what is not a public record is a Social Security number.

"If something is put (online) with a name, date of birth and Social Security number you're looking at a lawsuit that will knock your socks off especially if someone's credit is damaged."

Dustin added that any document going online should be screened so that personal identifiers are not included.

Jim Sweetin, a Clark County deputy district attorney who prosecutes identity theft cases, said he has never encountered a case in which a person has used public records to steal someone's identity.

Most identity thieves get personal information by stealing mail, going through trash or from other criminals.

But, he said, "Any source that would give criminals information such as a Social Security number, date of birth or anything needed to steal a person's identity would open up another avenue" for identity thieves.

Holmes said the ultimate decision on what information goes online and what doesn't belongs to Recorder Fran Deane. The County Commission has no direct authority over Deane, who is an independently elected county official.

Uhl said Deane promised before the election last November that she would address the issue, but since then "she's not giving it the time of day," he said.

Deane said Tuesday that she considers the issue critically important.

"It's a primary concern," she said. "There's various ways of attacking the solution to this problem but first I have to have an awareness of what the computer system that is coming on will do."

Barring access to the records altogether is contrary to state law, but Deane and Clark County Counsel Mary Miller said that does not mean all the information has to go online.

"We're not required to put stuff on the Internet," Miller said.

Sun reporters

Jace Radke and Jen Lawson contributed to this story.