Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the country, with the estimated annual cost to businesses and individual victims exceeding 50 billion, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). If you don't think you're not at risk then consider these numbers:

CBS news has reported that someone’s identity is stolen every 79 seconds.

I. Identity Theft takes place when someone stills any of your personal information and uses it to perform a financial transaction or conduct an activity.

II. You don’t have to have a lot of money or good credit to be a victim of Identity theft.

III. The identity theft cases reported are only 30% financial. The other 70% have to do with character (people stilling your identity to get a job or to avoid paying taxes), medical records (people stilling your identity to apply for medical insurance, prescription programs and receive medical procedures they would not be able to get otherwise), and the Department of Vehicle Registration (people stilling your identity to obtain a driver’s license, to avoid paying traffic tickets or to stay out of court).

IV. How thieves get your information:

1. They go through your trash cans looking for straight cut or un-shredded papers.
2. They steal your wallet or mail.
3. They listen in on conversations you have in public.
4. They trick you into giving them information over the phone or by e-mail.
5. They buy your information from someone who may have stolen it.
6. They still it from loan or credit applications, files at doctors’ offices, hospitals, banks, schools or anyone you do business with.
7. They get it from your computer.
8. They may be a friend, relative or someone who works with you and has access to your information.

1. Check your credit reports at least once a year with all 3 credit repositories.
2. Carefully destroy papers you throw out that have sensitive or identifying information on them. A cross-cut paper shredder works best.
3. Never give out your social security number or birthday unless they have a good reason for needing it and don’t carry your social security card with you.
4. Don’t put your social security number on your driver’s license.
5. Don’t put your driver’s license number on your checks.
6. Use a locked mailbox to send and receive mail.