Firms hit hard by identity theft [Boston,MA]

Government agencies and private corporations are also vulnerable to identity theft, and they often suffer greater losses than the client whose personal information was stolen, authorities said yesterday.

"The institutions are being duped just like you would be if your information was stolen," said Ken Jones, inspector in charge for the regional Postal Inspection Service, which investigates instances of mail fraud leading to identity theft.

When credit card or bank account numbers are stolen from corporations such as credit agencies, it is often the institutions, and not private citizens, who are hit the hardest, Jones said.

from Boston Globe