Ohio Attorney General offers help to victims of identity theft through new agency

Ohio victims of identity theft are getting some help when recovering from the crime, thanks to a new state initiative. State Attorney General Mike Dewine has announced a new government agency to help victims of all types of identity theft, The News Herald reports. The Identity Theft Unit will be part of the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section. It will offer victims two ways to resolve their problems. The first option, known as "Self-Help Assistance," will provide victims with the tools to fix the situation themselves. The other option, titled "Traditional Assistance," will enlist the help of a caseworker who will contact creditors, collectors and credit reporting agencies on behalf of the victim. Additionally, it gives the Attorney General's office the permission to represent the individual by filing a police report, an identity theft notification form and a separate document, the newspaper explains. States such as Minnesota and Wisconsin are also having trouble curbing identity theft. Most recently, a neighborhood in Minnesota saw 10 residents fall victim to the crime.