LexisNexis, a provider of personal and financial data, recently reported that the personal information of as many as 310,000 people nationwide may have been stolen. This figure is nearly 10 times higher than the original figure disclosed last month by the company.

ChoicePoint Inc., another consumer data collection service, stated 145,000 people in their database were possibly exposed to identity thieves earlier this year. At DSW Shoe Warehouse, officials acknowledged stolen credit information at 103 of its 175 stores nationwide. Hackers have also targeted databases at California State University as well as the University of California, San Diego.

Many consumers now fear that using the internet puts them at a higher risk of identity theft. However, surveys have shown that only 10 percent of known identity theft cases have resulted from online fraud. Dumpster diving along with phone scams account for far more ID theft than the internet.

In fact you can use the internet to help protect yourself from this crime in three unique ways:

1) View your banking and credit accounts online. Almost all banks and credit card companies have secure web sites that allow you to view your statements and activity safely online. Secure sites are those that begin with https// or display a padlock icon on your computer screen.

NEVER access a financial site through a link embedded in an e-mail message. E-mails with links asking you to verify or re-register your personal information are a sure sign of