That is why consumer advocates nationwide are mourning the loss of a measure (Senate Bill 39), sponsored by Sen. Carlene Walker, that failed last week to pass at the Utah Legislature.

Walker sought to give consumers the right to "freeze" their credit reports, preventing any individual or company from gaining access without permission. But the nation's credit bureaus and numerous creditors lobbied against the measure, ensuring its death in the waning hours of the session.

"We're very disappointed," said Laura Polacheck, associate state director AARP Utah. "We lost an important tool to fight identity theft."

Identity theft occurs when a thief uses someone else's personal information to obtain credit and make a purchase, gain employment or even commit a crime.

Gail Hillebrand, a senior attorney at advocacy group Consumers Union, said a so-called credit "freeze" - being pushed in states nationwide - is the only truly effective way for consumers to protect themselves from the growing problem of identity theft.

"It doesn't prevent your personal financial information from getting stolen," she said. "But it does prevent a thief from using your information to ruin your credit."

Right now, the only step consumers can take to limit access to their credit reports is to ask the nation's credit bureaus to place a fraud "alert" on their record. The alerts are designed to encourage creditors to take extra steps to verify that the individual applying for a loan, buying a cell phone or making a purchase is really who they say they are.

The alerts are really only for victims of fraud, and are good for only 90 days. And unfortunately, many creditors ignore them.

The credit "freeze," on the other hand, allows consumers to control access to the information in their credit report, Hillebrand said.

With a credit freeze, a consumer could elect to have their credit report closed so nobody could view it. If that consumer wanted to apply for credit, however, he or she would be able to lift the freeze temporarily so that a specific creditor can see the file.

"The important thing is that a creditor would not be able to see what is in your file unless you unlock the file for them," she said.

Hillebrand said four states have enacted credit freeze laws; another dozen or so are debating whether to do so.

The law differs from state to state. California's law enables consumers to put a security freeze on their credit reporting file at any time, even if they have not been victimized by identity theft, while the law in Texas allows only those people who have a police report detailing that they have become victims of identity theft to do so.

Retailers, especially car dealers, don't like the idea of a consumer being able to lock their credit report because they say it would make it more difficult for them to sign up for instant credit or make a purchase on the spot. Credit bureaus say adding this consumer option would be onerous to implement.

Walker, the bill's sponsor, said she will continue to push for consumer credit protection.

" Right now there is nothing except opportunities for victims to try to put their lives back together after being victimized," she said.

Polacheck of AARP Utah hopes the issue will be revived next year. Polacheck, who had her purse stolen and had someone try to use her personal information to buy a computer, said she would be one of the first to sign up for the opportunity to close her credit file.

"Right now, a consumer doesn't even know when their credit report is accessed," she said. "This is the only way you can prevent your information in your credit report from being released without your permission."

How to protect your personal financial information

Without the ability to control access to their credit reports, consumers must take a number of other steps to reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of identity theft.

l 1. Place a 90-day fraud alert on your credit file by contacting each of the three reporting credit agencies. Creditors will be more likely to make an extra effort to ensure the person applying for credit is really you, although some creditors ignore such alerts.

l 2. Read all of your mail. You could get a statement from an account someone else has opened using your credit. Shred everything.

l 3. Ask your credit card company to stop sending "convenience" checks, which can be stolen easily from your mail box. Consider a locking mail box or a post office box.

l 4. Check your credit report. Under a new federal law, consumers in Utah and other states can request a free copy of the report. Information: http://www.annualcreditreport.com, or 877-322-8228.

l 5. "Opt out" of having financial services companies review your credit report. The national credit bureaus have a toll-free number that enables consumers to opt out of all pre-approved credit offers with just one phone call. Call 888-5-OPTOUT (888-567-8688) for more information.