US official says efforts to fight nation’s fastest growing crime, identity theft, fall short

US govt effort against ID theft said to fall short

WASHINGTON — An internal review has found that the Justice Department has not done enough to fight identity theft, the fastest-growing crime in the country.

Justice Department Inspector General Glenn Fine says in a report that the department is falling short in efforts to combat identity theft, and that the issue has faded as a priority over the past two years.

Federal authorities reported last year that identity theft affects an estimated 10 million Americans annually.

A Justice Department spokeswoman says the agency agrees with the inspector general’s recommendations to improve coordination among law enforcement offices, and is implementing them.