Identity theft is the fraudulent use of your identity by a criminal who knows (or steals) enough information about you to impersonate you for his own gain. Unfortunately it’s easy to become a victim of identity theft. In fact, identity theft has become one of the fastest growing crimes in North America.
The Identity Theft Resource Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to the understanding and prevention of identity theft. Every year the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) shares its thoughts for the upcoming year. If you’re lucky and have never been a victim, there are some simple steps you can take to prevent identity theft, both online and offline. It includes information on how to report identity theft and how to get identity theft insurance. People spend an average of 4 hours reclaiming their identities once they’re stolen (but it can take upwards of 55 hours!), so it’s well worth taking a few minutes now to hone your identity theft prevention skills.
Read the entire list of predictions from the ITRC: What’s Hot! ITRC’s list for 2009, and check back with us for 2010 predictions.
