Identity theft is a crime and a increasing problem in the United States. Identity theft includes any fraudulent activity involving the assumption of someone else's name, social security number, financial information or other sensitive personal data with the intention of dishonesty.



Far too many of us are slapdash with our personal data. We make it easy for anyone with criminal intentions to gain access to information that can be used for anything -- even to assume our entire financial identity. We need to be aware of the dangers of identity theft, how to protect ourselves and steps to take if we suspect someone else is using our personal data illegally.

The best way to protect yourself against identity theft is to guard personal identification numbers such as social security and bank account numbers. The crime of identity theft can occur in seemingly secure places like a public phone booth or an ATM. Always ask for a written application or documentation to be mailed to you. If the caller is legitimate then he or she will usually comply. If not, suspect that you might be a potential victim of identity theft and hang up.

Another wise idea is to shred any credit applications that arrive at your home. At the very least, tear them up and make sure the pieces wind up in separate trash bags. Lastly, because the checks we write pass into so many different hands, never put your social security number or any other information you want to guard on your checks.

Always review your bank statements and credit card bills vigilantly for anything unusual. You must act right away if you suspect you are a victim of identity theft. Close any accounts you think the thief may have access to, notify the police and contact one of the three major consumer-reporting companies who by law must notify the other two. Finally, let the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) know so that your incident of identity theft will go into a national tracking system.

Identity theft can happen to anyone, and it can be overwhelming for your financial future. Refuse to be the next victim by educating yourself on identity theft.