Identity Theft Is The World's Fastest Growing Crime.

We provide the protection facts needed to prevent you from becoming a victim.

Identity Theft Protection

Learn about identity theft protection and how to avoid becoming a victim.

Identity Theft Detection

Learn how to detect identity theft and stop it dead in its tracks.

Identity Theft Recovery

Learn how you can make it more difficult for thieves to victimize you and your family.

Identity Theft Protection

Identity Theft Affects 1 in 4 Households

Today’s digital landscape can be a daunting place for your identity. Fortunately, Identity Theft Protection Facts can guide you through it, giving you the peace of mind and confidence you need to persevere. We equip you with tools and guidance to help protect your personal information.

These products provide credit monitoring and alerts, comprehensive identity services and restoration solutions. While no product can prevent identity theft, we list proactive monitoring services that quickly identify fraudulent activity and put you on the right path forward.

Learn The Truth About Identity Theft

Keeping Your Teen Safe on Twitter

Twitter is an interesting social network since you only have 140 characters to say whatever you want. You cannot post pictures or videos but you … Read More

Is the Cloud Safe?

Cloud computing has been heralded as the herald of the future. Considering the amount of data we already move everyday between mobile handsets, traditional computers, … Read More

How to spot an email or phishing scam

Developments in technology over the years have made a lot of tasks – both major ones and trivial things – easier to accomplish. The Internet … Read More

4 Things Identity Thieves Search For On Your Blog or Social Media

Identity thieves can wreak havoc on your personal and financial life and it only takes a few pieces of information for them to do so. … Read More

How to Safely Use Online Banking When Traveling

As the world and the Internet become more mobile, so do mobile operations. The time waiting in line has become an opportunity to check email, … Read More

Lost or Stolen Social Security Cards

Social Security, which is run by the U.S. government, collects taxes and distributes supplemental security income to senior and/or disabled citizens, and Social Security numbers … Read More

Identity Theft Law

Identity theft law defines an identity theft crime as a situation in which a person steals the identity of another person and uses financial information, … Read More

ID Theft Reporting

ID theft reporting incidents continue to increase each year, as more individuals fall victim to increasingly elaborate schemes and persistent criminals intent on committing fraud. … Read More

Prevent identity theft through shredding

Document Shredding is an Essential Weapon Against ID Theft The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection, in concert with the National Center … Read More

Identity Theft Involving the Deceased

Stealing the identities of the dead seems too ghoulish a crime ever really to happen, right? You might think so, but this means it will … Read More

Identity Theft Protection Reviews

  • Lifelock Review: LifeLock, which is based in Tempe, Arizona, and headed by CEO Todd Davis, currently protects over one million customers and is also one of the...Lifelock Review »
  • Trusted ID Review: TrustedID, which was founded in Redwood City, California in 2005 by Scott Micit, former Fair Issac vice president, and Omar Ahmad, former Napster...Trusted ID Review »
  • IDENTITY GUARD® Review: IdentityGuard, a Chantilly, Virginia based company and a division of Intersections Inc, has been providing customers with customized identity...IDENTITY GUARD Review »
  • ProtectMyID Review: ProtectMyID, a leading, full-service provider of identity theft protection and fraud resolution, helps customers defend themselves against identity...ProtectMyID Review »
  • Equifax Review: Equifax, based in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of the three main credit scoring agencies on the market today, in addition to TransUnion and Experian...Equifax Review »

View ID Theft Reviews »

Credit Monitoring Reviews

  • TrueCredit Review: Developed by all three major credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian) to make it easier for customers to understand their credit scores...TrueCredit Review »
  • FreeCreditScore Review: FreeCreditScore seeks to give consumers quick, easy, and inexpensive access to their credit histories...FreeCreditScore Review »
  • TripleAlert Review: TripleAlert supplies credit monitoring to its more than 3 million members and has delivered more than 20 million credit reports on the Web...TripleAlert Review »
  • ScoreAssist Review: Score Assist also aids with real-time disputes of negative items, as well as with those items on a credit report which customers may not understand...ScoreAssist Review »
  • CreditReport Review: A popular credit score monitoring service, CreditReport.com provides analyses of customers' credit scores and histories...CreditReport Review »

View Credit Monitoring Reviews »

Identity Theft Questions

What is Identity Theft?

Identity theft occurs when a thief uses an individual's personal identification information, such as social security... Read More »

How do identity thieves steal an identity?

Identity thieves generally begin by misusing individuals' social security numbers, addresses, credit card numbers, and/or other... Read More »

What do identity thieves do with a stolen identity?

Once identity thieves obtain individuals' personal information, they use it fraudulently in a variety of different ways... Read More »

View All FAQ's »

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What Is Identity Theft?

Identity theft is the act of retrieving your personal information by anyone who has the intent of fraudulently using it. Personal information is obtained by criminals in many ways and they are continually devising new methods that are less detectable or more deceiving.

Some of the most common ways for thieves to steal your identity are retrieving trashed items, stealing your mail, hacking into your computer files, using phishing emails, pop-ups, and attachments, using credit card and ATM card skimmers, and placing hidden cameras on or near ATMs.

Most people have that “it won’t happen to me” attitude. However, according to a Javelin Strategy and Research survey, roughly 12.6 million American victims were hit by identity theft in 2012 alone. Once your identity has been stolen and used either by the thief or those to whom they sell it, considerable damage can be caused to your credit rating and it can take a great deal of effort to get things set straight. 

Ways to Protect Your Identity

Due to the extreme damage and hassle that can result from identity theft, it is beneficial to take precautionary steps to protect from ID theft rather than to have to deal with the aftermath, especially when traveling on vacations when thieves are more actively seeking victims. Here are some ways to keep from being an ID theft victim and preventing your happy vacation from becoming a horrible nightmare. 

  • Secure Your Mail. When creating your to-do list for vacation travel, be sure to add a bullet point for the Post Office to hold your mail. This is easily done by filling out a short slip at the Post Office that instructs them to hold your mail until your return, or you can specify a date of delivery reactivation. You should not depend on a door mail slot or neighbors to gather your mail as criminals who know you are gone will wait for opportunities to grab important documents containing your information. 
  • Avoid Using Credit Cards. Credit cards are quite convenient and are used extensively on vacations. However, thieves know this and go to great lengths to steal your credit card information. Credit crooks can use skimmers in place of real credit card machines that capture credit card numbers and PINs and they can even hack into hotels, restaurants, or other business databases and steal personal information in bulk. The best way to avoid having your credit card information stolen while on vacation is to avoid using them. Instead, use cash or, better still, traveler’s checks. 
  • Be Cautious Online. Although online identity theft dangers exist anywhere, they are particularly prevalent while on vacation. The reason is that people mostly use laptops, mobile devices, and even Internet Cafés and hotel computer rooms to conduct online business. Such devices and locations are easily manipulated by hackers and ID thieves to obtain personal information. Therefore, avoid sending sensitive information over such devices while on vacation and, if you require doing so such as to pay bills, be sure to use sites that have current SSL certificates and secured connections. 
  • Scrutinize ATMs. Acquiring cash during vacation is a common practice and ATMs are the go-to sources because of their convenience. However, criminals can install card skimmers and place cameras in or near such machines that capture numbers and PINs. To avoid being victimized, only use ATMs in well-populated areas and look machines over before using and avoid any ATMs that appear to have been tampered with (i.e. scratches, bulky out-of-place adaptations, and other signs on or around readers, viewers, entry points, etc). 
  • Hire a Professional Watchdog. You might also hire a company to monitor your credit activity while you are on vacation. Such companies closely monitor all activities and make you aware of any suspicious entries which can be challenged and stopped immediately, thus preventing long-term harm.

Identity Theft Facts

Identity theft is the fastest growing and most commonly reported white-collar crime in the United States. You may be wondering how common is identity theft? According to the Federal Trade Commission, nearly ten million people have a crime involving identity theft committed against them each year. Of this number, more than half are unaware that their personal information was ever in jeopardy.

An alarming identity theft fact is that 85 percent of identity theft victims remain unaware of the problem for months or even years. Often, they only discover that they have had a crime committed against them until they are denied financing. IdentityEdge is an identity theft resource that offers help with identity theft by providing education and services designed for the prevention and detection of identity theft and fraud and restoration services.

On this site, you will learn how to protect yourself from identity theft with comprehensive information on identity theft and identity theft tips. You will learn the cause of identity theft and the various types of theft, as well as how thieves access your information, so you can take a more active role in managing your sensitive financial information.

Identification theft prevention programs are designed to monitor your credit report, social security number activity and will even alert you if someone attempts to change your address to prevent and identify issues involving identity theft early. When learning how to protect against identity theft, early identification of potential breaches of security and discovering theft quickly is the best way to ensure your sensitive information is protected.

In addition, we offer advice to help restore your identity if you are the victim of identity theft. Restoration services are designed to help you resolve issues related to fraud, so you can regain control of your finances and protect your credit rating. Browse our website to learn more about the plans and sign up today.