Welcome to Wisconsin's Office of Privacy Protection

Identity theft continues to be the fastest growing crime in the country.  More than 11 million people in the U.S. become victims each year. Estimates are that one in six people will become an identity theft victim at some point in their lives.

By acquiring just a small amount of information, identity thieves can destroy a person’s financial reputation and cause endless stress on a person and their family.  Identity theft costs consumers millions of dollars in fraudulent charges each year, and can take years and cost thousands of dollars to recover from.

Businesses are also harmed by identity theft, costing them not only money – but sometimes their reputation as well.  In addition, businesses lose money, both in real dollars and in productivity, every time one of their customers becomes the victim of identity theft.

The Office of Privacy Protection works with Wisconsinites to educate them on how to protect their identities.  Since 2006, the Office of Privacy Protection has taught more than 50,000 consumers, businesses, and law enforcement agencies about identity theft and fraud prevention.  It also has provided victim assistance to those harmed by identity theft, and helped local law enforcement agencies to investigate this crime.

Identity theft and fraud are likely to be with us for the foreseeable future.  Technology and e-commerce enable thieves around the world to steal our identities and use them for financial gain or criminal activity.  The Wisconsin Office of Privacy Protection is a valuable resource for all who live, work or do business in Wisconsin.  By working together, we can avoid being victimized by this serious and widespread crime.