Identity Theft Facts
Is it only a matter of time
before you become a victim?
Some say it is, when considering identity theft facts. However, I know people who are in their eighties who have never had a problem. But I also know others who have, several just recently. I have also heard of students, about to enter college, who have been turned down for a loan because of a bad credit rating--a total surprise to them--because of identity theft. Even children's identities are now being compromised!
This is not intended to frighten you into making rash decisions, but to inform you and provide good, solid solutions that you can use that will bring about a well-thought-out plan for securing your personal information and identity.
Ultimately, you must make up your own mind and take the course of action you deem best for your situation.
Below are some important identity theft facts to consider:
•Identity theft is the fastest growing crime across the country
right now.
•Identity theft is the most called-about subject on the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse's telephone hotline.
•Identity theft hits 1 out of every 4 households in the U.S.
•Identity theft causes great emotional stress and family disruption, as well as economic hardship.
•Many who are victimized by identity theft continue to have negative information on their records.
•It can take months, even years, and hundreds to thousands of dollars for victims to clear their name.
•Many people are still unaware of the options available to protect themselves from identity theft.
•Many people who have knowledge of what to do to protect themselves, often do not, because they either don't take it seriously and don't believe they will ever be victimized, or they just never take the time to do what is necessary because they are so busy.
•To be unprepared is to be unprotected, and an easy target.
•It is well documented that the number of victims of identity theft and credit fraud is on the rise and with the personal information of consumers being exposed on a daily basis, the potential to become vicitimzed has also greatly increased.
•There have been an alarming number of data breaches over the last couple of years. You are probably aware of the most publicized breach concerning the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs, which exposed over 500,000 veterans and 1.3 million non-VA physicians to high risk of identity theft.
•Data breaches happen quite often and involve millions of potential victims. Consider this: From January 2005 to August 2007, there were over 150 million (159,550,898 & growing) records containing sensitive personal information involved in security breaches. Many of these breaches happen at places you know, use, and trust.
Here are just a few:
**ChoicePoint
**East Carolina University
**John Hopkins University
**John Hopkins Hospital
**Ohio Board of Nursing
**North Carolina Department of Revenue
**University of Idaho
**RadioShack
**American Cancer Society
**Starbucks
**US Department of Agriculture
**Nissan Motor Company
**Army National Guard
**H&R Block
**Visa
**Premier Bank
**Department of Defense
**General Electric
**T-Mobile
**Department of Motor Vehicles
**Chase Bank
**Boeing
**IRS
**TJX Companies--TJMaxx and Marshalls
For a complete listing with more details, visit the following website:
http://www.privacyrights.org/ar/ChronDataBreaches.htm
These data breaches took place due to:
**Laptop and desktop computers being stolen
**Information disks being missplaced or stolen
**Unsecured file cabinets
**Programming errors
**Hackers
**Dumped information
**Dishonest employees
With personal information becoming more accessible and less secure, these identity theft facts reveal just how important it is to learn how to implement key strategies and make use of available resources to prevent identity theft from happening to you and your family!
Be proactive. Be prepared. Be protected!
Go to Identity Theft Protection Services
Return from Identity Theft Facts to
Identity Theft Prevention Tips
Back to the Top of the Page
|
