| Identity theft claims a new victim almost every 3 | | | | U.S.Treasury advisor Valerie McNiven made a |
| seconds. Knowing this should give us good reason | | | | claim that cybercrime has become more |
| to talk about it. So let's go over some facts why | | | | profitable industry than illegal drug trafficking. |
| we need identity theft protection more and more. | | | | Some ways Identities are stolen is not always |
| The information age brings us many new ways | | | | online. One way is referred to as Digital Pick |
| for someone to steal our money, identity, homes, | | | | Pocketing. Anyone who has physical access to |
| savings, and bank accounts which are the same | | | | your credit card can swipe your name and credit |
| as stealing our lives. The cost of recovering from | | | | card information using a "skimmer", a small |
| a circumstance like this for an individual is very | | | | handheld device which reads electronic data |
| costly in time and money. | | | | stored on the magnetic stripe found on credit |
| An innocent victim of identity theft uses between | | | | cards, like a waiter waitress, bartender, anyone |
| 3 to 5,840 hours of their life trying to put it back | | | | you hand your card to and walks away from |
| together again. An average $1,820 to $14,340 | | | | your sight. There are more reasons to look into |
| wages are lost to an unsuspected victim when | | | | Identity Theft Protection, another place identity |
| dealing with their cases. The other expenses | | | | theft thieves use skimmers is ATM machines |
| related to their case, they will spend $851 to | | | | which are getting known as automatic theft |
| $1,378 on expenses. Individual cases of identity | | | | machines, a device that's attached to an ATM, |
| theft impact business cost are 40% that tops | | | | looking to steal bank card information and PINS. |
| over $15,000 in lost revenue. | | | | Skimmer setups costs are low compared to what |
| Because of the tremendous growth of internet | | | | they can bring in, no more than a $300 magnetic |
| commerce and the broad band connection this | | | | stripe reader and a hidden camera aimed at the |
| has given hackers vast new opportunities to | | | | keypad. The reader quickly steals your |
| target their victims without a clue. Americans pay | | | | information and the hidden camera records your |
| $263 million a year because of online theft. | | | | pin as you type it in. The information the skimmer |
| Recently named Crime of the Times, Identity | | | | receives is stored on a memory card or laptop |
| Theft will affect 10 million Americans a year. The | | | | hidden some where nearby. |
| internet and online access if not a big part now will | | | | So we have challenges to accept if we don't want |
| be a big part American life. We work and have | | | | to be a victim, or shrink the odds to make it |
| businesses, perform family household business, | | | | harder to find your identity. Crime prevention is |
| purchase, and self financial statements, address | | | | about being aware, checking your credit report, |
| changes with the U.S. postal service. As our lives | | | | shredding all important material, securing your |
| become more digital and we enter into the world | | | | mailbox, investing in identity theft insurance |
| of commerce, our vulnerability grows. High Tech | | | | because maybe people should be cautious. There |
| criminals use the same system that encourages | | | | are a few more ways that Identity Theft can |
| the easy flow of information and commerce, and | | | | make us a victim we can cover that another |
| they come up with countless opportunities to | | | | time, so get in the habit of Identity Theft |
| steal from the innocent. Earlier this year | | | | Protection and Awareness. |