| "I got bad credit, I'm not worried""It | | | | your identity is stolen there is only one |
| happened to a friend of a friend""I've got | | | | priority: Getting it back. On average it can |
| other priorities now""All it takes is | | | | take 175 hours and out of pocket expenses |
| guarding your Social Security number""I can | | | | totaling 15,000 dollars according to the |
| trust the people around me"These quotes are | | | | FTC."All it takes is guarding your Social |
| all too common regarding identity theft. The | | | | Security number"In February of this year Bank |
| problem is the Federal Trade Commission, | | | | of America announced that 1.2 million federal |
| various law enforcement agencies and identity | | | | employee credit card accounts may have been |
| theft experts have stated there are no 100% | | | | exposed to identity theft. Last year, Visa |
| guarantees and the numbers for identity theft | | | | and MasterCard announced that 40 million |
| keep getting worse"I got bad credit so I'm | | | | cardholders maybe at risk when the database |
| not worried"Just recently KFLY TV in | | | | of their third party processor was broken |
| Lafayette Louisiana reported that 2 men were | | | | into. Many of these people no doubt guarded |
| arrested for stealing the identity of 2500 | | | | their Social Security number faithfully but |
| people. Identity thieves don't run credit | | | | thru no fault of their own they're at risk."I |
| checks before they steal your identity.All | | | | can trust the people around me"This one hits |
| they need to do damage is a little bit of | | | | home and may hurts the worst. 50% of all |
| your personal information."It happened to a | | | | identity thieves are known by the victim. |
| friend of a friend"This one should really | | | | Family members, friends and neighbors do more |
| alert people. The reason ? Everybody now | | | | damage than total strangers.There are other |
| knows somebody that's been victimized. That | | | | reasons people give. Yes it may never happen |
| alone tells you what an epidemic identity | | | | to you but identity theft is now a full blown |
| theft has become. Last year 10 million people | | | | epidemic that affects everyone.Daryl Campbell |
| had their identities stolen. Many experts | | | | is a home business owner. He writes |
| think that number will double this year. They | | | | extensively about identity theft. The best |
| also fear the 10 million figure is too low. | | | | way to fight id theft and fraud? Free |
| Why? Many victims don't report the | | | | information. |
| crime."I've got other priorities now"Once | | | | |