The statistics for ID theft are already registering signficant numbers for a year that is still in its first quarter. According to this press release from the University of Texas at Austin, the university’s computer system was hacked, exposing some 55,200 records that included names and social security numbers of current and past students, faculty, staff and job applicants, in the largest known attack of its kind to date. For further information, see this press release from United States Attorney Johnny Sutton and a university sponsored website on Identity Protection Resources.
See also this article, UT redoubles vigilance after network intrusion, March 8, 2003 (now archived and requires a fee to access via the Austin American Statesman).