WASHINGTON, DC – To help states combat the growing threat of business identity theft, the members of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) today announced the formation of a NASS Business Identity Theft Task Force. The task force is a major association initiative that will target business identity theft prevention strategies and develop practical, cost-effective tools and guidance for states.

"With the downturn in the economy, the newest victims of identity theft are small and medium-sized businesses, including dormant or inactive companies," said NASS President Mark Ritchie of Minnesota, who serves on the task force. "As the state officials who oversee business registrations and corporate filings, secretaries of state have come together to educate business owners on how they can reduce their chances of falling prey to identity thieves and to explore safeguards for state filing systems."

The eleven-member NASS Business Identity Theft Task Force will work with a wide array of industry stakeholders, including state legislators, law enforcement, business support groups, financial institutions and others as it develops its final report.

For a list of NASS Business Identity Theft Task Force members, click here.

The group, which convened by conference call for the first time on April 7, determined the range of issues that will be researched and addressed by the task force. These include: the types of technology used by states in housing business documents, solutions for securing state business filing information and records, and key partnerships/liaisons for conducting outreach. Members also discussed state laws and other deterrents to business identity theft.

"The NASS Business Identity Theft Task Force capitalizes on the expertise of our members when it comes to state business services and records management," said NASS Executive Director Leslie Reynolds. "Task force members are confident that working together on identity theft prevention is an extremely wise investment strategy for states and businesses alike, saving valuable time, money and resources for all."