KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in Central Florida, and Kissimmee police set out to show how easy it is for criminals to get their hands on sensitive personal information.
On Thursday, detectives wearing plain clothes asked people to hand over information for a chance to appear in a television commercial.
The detectives were able to convince people to give up their social security number, bank account information and drivers' license number. All of which is more than enough to steal someone's identity.
"Why would you give up all that information?" asked Eyewitness News reporter Mark Boyle.
"Uh, well, I wanted to know what it was and I wasn't going to leave without information from them as well," said Jason Bence.
In less than two hours, 14 people gave up their information while only four declined. Officers say they got their message across and everyone who walked by got a brochure full of information about identity theft.