According to Deputy Ken Nelson of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's West Valley Substation, identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the nation, affecting more than 500,000 people in the previous year.

Statistics reveal that the number of identity theft cases has increased substantially, with a 1,400 percent rise from 1997 to 2002.

"This is a serious and scary problem because it is so easy to do," said Nelson. "Approximately one in three will become victims, and many won't even realize it until months later."

Nelson said that affluent communities such as Saratoga, Monte Sereno and Los Gatos are heavily impacted target areas, with mail theft and Internet hacking being the leading cases.

"These people are smart burglars," he said. "This is the easiest and fastest way to make money. They know exactly what to look for."

What criminals are searching for is anything containing personal information, such as bank or credit card statements or letters from the DMV. They can cause severe damage to a person's credit by acquiring a Social Security number, a birth date, a home phone number or even something as simple as a name.

Criminals have many ways of getting the information they need. According to Nelson, many scope out residential neighborhoods and steal incoming and outgoing mail from mailboxes. Many find checks, which can be altered and rewritten after using an easily obtainable solvent.

In cases of check fraud, Nelson said, victims can get reimbursed if they are federally insured. In order to prosecute a case, the court must have the original check. However, banks typically destroy bad checks that are under $5,000. Nelson said experienced criminals are aware of this bank policy, allowing them to write multiple checks under this amount without getting caught.

Many individuals become victims the minute they give personal information over the phone. Many imposters claim that they are with a certain company or organization, asking for donations or claiming that the victim has won a free vacation but needs information to confirm their award.

Nelson advised residents to never give any personal information over the phone for two reasons: First, the person on the other end of the line could be a scam artist; second, residents using a portable phone may be giving information to not only the receiver but also those some distance away.

"People can pick up signals within a 700-yard radius," said Nelson. "They can sell information and make a lot of money off it."

Nelson added that if residents must reveal information over the phone to a legitimate organization they should always use a hard line phone.

Another method criminals use to obtain personal information is rummaging through Dumpsters.

"It's a goldmine for criminals," said Nelson. "One of the things they look for are paycheck stubs."

Det. Danny Aulman, who also works at the Westside Substation, said he deals with identity theft cases on a regular basis. According to Aulman, there are approximately 14 open cases in Saratoga, but many cases elsewhere.

He said that one of the more recent cases resulted in the apprehension of a Campbell 17-year-old. The juvenile used a victim's credit card information and address to purchase more than $1,000 worth of cell phones and computer parts on the Internet. The suspect was caught when the victim notified the sheriff's department that a male was present to pick up an unexpected shipment.

In another case involving a Los Altos resident, the criminal used someone else's credit card account to bail her husband out of jail and to purchase a big-screen television.

Nelson and Aulman said there are a number of ways residents can avoid being victims of identity theft. Preventative measures include shredding all paperwork containing any personal information, handing in outgoing mail directly to a postal employee or depositing it at the post office collection mailbox, memorizing Social Security and PINs instead of keeping them written on a card in a wallet, having checkbooks sent to a bank instead of a home and reviewing all bank and credit card statements.

Det. Steve Walpole, of the Los Gatos­Monte Sereno Police Department, added that health insurance cards, which are typically carried around in people's wallets, usually list the client's Social Security number. Walpole urges residents to black out those numbers since subscribers can easily recite the information to medical personnel.

Nelson cautioned residents to avoid purchasing items online and giving information on the Internet. He said that most reputable companies have a number customers can call to purchase an item.

He also advised residents to request copies of their credit history.

Walpole said individuals can be taken off direct marketing lists to avoid receiving calls from telemarketers by phoning 888.5.OPTOUT (888.567.8688).

Walpole also advised homeowners to change their mailboxes from unsecured to locked ones. "We have tons and tons of unsecured mailboxes," Walpole said. Criminals access mail to acquire credit card bills and applications.

According to Nelson, it takes an average of 175 hours working over a two-year period for credit agencies and victims to rectify a problem with their credit. Those who have fallen victim to identity theft may request that the agency watch their credit for any suspicious activity for a span of six months. However, they must do so in writing.

Victims of identity theft are strongly advised to contact the sheriff's department and to notify credit-reporting agencies. For more information, visit www.sccsheriff.org.