It seems as if every time you turn on the TV news these days, there is some story at least once or twice a week about some new identity theft scam.  Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes of this decade and if you have not taken pro-active steps to protect your identify, it is not a matter of "if" it will happen to you, but "when".

First let's review what happens in an identify theft crime.  A thief gets enough of your personal information to be able to open accounts in your name.  It's really as simple as that.  Such information would include items that would normally be used to open a new account somewhere such as your social security number, your driver's license number, and with some accounts, even less information may be required, as surprising as that sounds.  Once the thief has opened the new accounts such as Visa cards, department store cards, even personal loans, the thief gets as much money as he can on those accounts, then disappears into the sunset.  The first time you are aware that your identity has been compromised is when you get a phone call from one or more of the accounts inquiring as to your plans for your very high and very past due balance on an account that you didn't even know you had...

Continue reading Finding Identity Theft Protection in Good Old Common Sense ...