Identity theft scheme reported across Ohio

COLUMBUS -- Ohio is among states across the country being impacted by a sophisticated identity-theft scheme, the Ohio Department of Safety said today. A news release from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles said the scheme was first identified in Texas earlier this year and involves the use of stolen personal information to answer online BMV security questions and gain access to individual BMV accounts. Once inside an individual account, identity thieves then request that a driver's license or identification card reprint be mailed to a new address. "This scheme is incredibly concerning, not only because criminals are ordering up legitimate driver's licenses, but because they can use these cards and the stolen personal information to potentially access your bank account," Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson was quoted as saying in the news release. "If you receive a postcard from the Ohio BMV telling you about an address change that you did not request, it's important that you immediately take action." According to the release, thousands of replacement driver's licenses were sent to unauthorized parties using stolen personal information in Texas. In Ohio, the BMV has initiated contact with about 90 residents whose stolen information was used to obtain or attempt to obtain a reprint of a driver's license. While no Ohio systems were breached, it is unknown where the criminals obtained the stolen personal information, the release said. The Ohio BMV has reported the fraud to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and has devoted additional resources to monitor for patterns associated with this criminal activity, the news release said. Due to the additional monitoring, it is unlikely that additional fraudulently requested Ohio driver's licenses will be mailed, according to the release, but persons who receive a postcard from the BMV with notification of online profile changes that were not requested should immediately contact the BMV at 844-644-6268.The release said it is also recommended that residents file a report with a local law enforcement agency, change answers to online security questions and place an initial fraud alert in credit files. Additional information on identity theft is available through the Ohio Attorney General's office.