By Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto

In 2007, Nevada was ranked third in the nation for identity theft crimes.

To help address this situation, my office is offering the Nevada Identity Theft Passport program as a service to Nevada residents who are identity theft victims to assist them with recovery from this intrusive and damaging crime.

Other states have implemented similar programs. Nevada's Identity Theft Passport program is now up and running at very low cost to the taxpayers. Our program is doing well because we have been able to use existing personnel and infrastructure in almost every area of Nevada.

The actual procedures vary somewhat depending on where you live in Nevada. Should you become an identity theft victim, let me walk you through the program we offer.

After you discover that you have become the victim of identity theft, you will need to file a police report with local law enforcement and ask for the Nevada Identity Theft Passport brochure and application.

You will then make an appointment with your local County Sheriff or Attorney General's Office to complete an online "Passport" application. The Sheriff's Office will then send the completed application to the Attorney General's office in Carson City.

After we verify the application, you will receive a secure, personalized Nevada "Passport" program card that contains your picture, signature and thumb print.

This card is an effective tool for you to use in order to demonstrate that your identity has been stolen. It is likely to be most useful to help you explain your situation to merchants, banks and law enforcement officials.

For example, suppose the thief who has stolen your identity commits a crime using your identity. Unfortunately, all the police investigating that crime would have to go on is your name, your identity. You would know nothing at all about what the real criminal has done while using your identification information.

Now suppose the police pull you over and accuse you of this crime that has been committed with your identity information.

Remember, the only thing law enforcement in this case has to go on is your name. Would you want to quickly be able to show the police a card that explains you are a victim of identity theft and that you are not the real thief they are after? Of course you would.

Much of the credit for the statewide rollout goes to the National Notary Association. They provided the necessary cameras and software that enable law enforcement personnel to take "Passport" program card photographs and thumbprints.

My office has provided training and other assistance, but it was your local sheriff or police who came up with the computer and, most important, their local staff that to make this program operational.

An Identity Theft Passport does not prevent identity theft. It can only assist in helping to clear things up afterwards. It is a valuable tool that can be used by an identity theft victim to recover from this alarming and intrusive crime.

First and foremost, remember that it is best to protect yourself from identity theft before it happens. While there are no guarantees, everyone should take a few simple steps.

Never loan any identity card like a driver's license or Social Security card to anyone -- not even a close friend. Carefully review all your bank and credit card statements every month. Shred them before you throw them out. Never provide personal or financial information to anyone you do not know over the telephone, Internet or in response to an email.

Once a year, check your credit report (http://www.annualcreditreport.com ) for discrepancies and ensure you are the one who has opened all existing accounts.

Be safe, be secure. Additional information can be obtained from my website at http://ag.state.nv.us/idtheft/idtheft.htm .

This op-ed originally appeared in The Reno (Nev.) Gazette-Journal.