The Identity Theft Epidemic : What The "Experts" Aren't Telling
You
Picture yourself walking down the street, all alone. It's late
at night. It's a bit brisk, and the wind is blowing through the
tall buildings on both sides of you. Suddenly, from out of
nowhere, someone runs by you, knocks you over, grabs your
wallet, and takes off.
It sounds like a scene from a movie, and there may come a time
in the future where this type of person-to-person crime is only
found in movies. Why would anyone rob a bank, or rob an
individual, when they could simply use a person's information to
obtain employment, credit cards, and lines of credit?
By now, everyone knows what Identity Theft is. Identity Theft
has been showing up in the news for several years, and there has
been a large public awareness campaign since the FTC Report in
September 2003.
In their report, the FTC shared that the average Identity Theft
victim spends over $1,400.00, and more than 200 hours, just to
clear their good name. Reports now are saying that victims can
end up spending much, much more in terms of time, money, and
frustration.
Other people may be willing to spend that kind of time and
money, but if you don't have an extra $1400 or 200 hours, read
on!
What is Identity Theft?
Identity Theft couldn't happen to me, right?
What can I do to protect myself?
There is good news.
Identity Theft Insurance?
What is Identity Theft? ID Theft happens when someone takes any
piece of your personal information, and fraudulently uses it to
obtain access to your credit, bank accounts, or to obtain
employment.
How can it happen? There are literally thousands of ways your
information can be stolen, and, as Harris County district
attorney Chuck Rosenthal knows, if it can happen to him, it is
proof that identity theft and fraud can happen to anyone.
"Rosenthal said nearly $8,000 was stolen from his account before
it was discovered [