Comptroller Combs Lauds University of Texas Identity Protection Efforts

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas  In 2012 the total monetary loss due to identity theft was $24.7 billion nationally said Texas Comptroller Susan Combs congratulating the University of Texas Center for Identity (UTCID) on the launch of a unique online resource center that will give Texans the tools they need to help secure their personal information such as Social Security or credit card numbers from identity thieves. Today UTCID unveils IDWise a groundbreaking online portal for accurate consumer friendly tips articles games and videos on how to manage your personal identity. Combs will join U.S. Rep. John R. Carter University of Texas Vice President for Research Juan Sanchez and UTCID Director Suzanne Barber for the public launch of IDWise from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center at the University of Texas at Austin. The total monetary loss due to all other types of property theft combined that year was $14 billion" Combs said. As the chief financial officer of Texas I can tell you this has a real economic impact on individual Texans and businesses in our state." IDWise is a free resource designed to educate those most at-risk for identity theft: children older adults small businesses veterans and active-service men and women.

As the premier identity theft resource and research information center in the United States IDWise will educate citizens and businesses and help prevent millions of dollars in lost income fraudulent costs wasted time and reputation damage" Combs said.

Combs partnered with the University of Texas to secure funding for this new tool from the Texas Legislature. This is the culmination of a lot of hard work on the part of the university and all of our partners and we want to thank the Comptroller for her work in helping to make IDWise a reality" said Suzanne Barber UTCID director. The IDWise website can be found at https://identity.utexas.edu.