MASSACHUSETTS WILD WEST OF PERSONAL INFORMATION The Enterprise at SouthofBoston.com

No one who subscribes to the Boston Globe or Worcester Telegram & Gazette expected their credit card numbers and banking information to be dropped off on thousands of street corners, as happened last week, the latest in a growing string of personal information being compromised.

The New York Times Co., owner of the two newspapers, said none of the information had been misused, but company executives are certainly well aware that fraud can occur weeks or months from when such information is stolen or sold. More than 200,000 customers will have to remain vigilant about their credit card and banking statements for a long time.

What happened is that the company recycled paper containing financial information into wrapper labels for about 9,000 bundles of newspapers delivered to carriers and sellers. It was irresponsible to recycle such sensitive information and the practice was immediately stopped — but too late.

This news would be depressing enough if it were an isolated incident. But it isn't. It seems like a week doesn't go by in which there is a report of personal information being lost or mishandled by a major company.

Last June, MasterCard said more than 40 million card holders might be exposed to fraud — with 68,000 at "higher levels of risk" after a security system was hacked. Bank of America also lost computer tapes with personal information of more than a million federal employees. It goes on and on.

The problem is so bad that Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who has sponsored identity-theft legislation, said, "It's the Wild West out there."

The implications for business and the economy are enormous. If people cannot trust companies to protect their personal data, they will stop giving their credit card numbers and writing checks to companies they thought they could trust. It is bad enough when hackers try to steal information; when this data is simply "lost," that is inexcusable.

The newspaper debacle will not be the last occurrence, and stronger penalties for those who engage in identity theft are useless as electronic commerce spreads all over the world and Web sites pop up every day, offering stolen credit information.

It is indeed a Wild West out there, with a lot more Billy the Kids than Pat Garretts.