By Paul Cook, VP of Business Development, Intelius, Inc.

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States and affected nearly 10 million victims in 2004 alone. Mid-2005, CitiFinancial lost 3.9 million customer financial records and CardSystems Solutions compromised the data of nearly 40 million more consumers. These data losses continue to contribute to identity theft's current rank as the FTC's top consumer complaint.

Like most crimes, identity theft can be prevented. However, many consumers are unaware of the preventative measures they should take to reduce their risk of becoming a victim.

The state of identity theft
Identity thieves grow more sophisticated each day. Marketplaces that connect buyers and sellers of stolen data are adding to the efficiency and profitability of identity peddlers. The window of opportunity to use such data may be as short as a days or even hours. Perpetrators have set up elaborate schemes to accept the delivery of products purchased with stolen information. And the damages of identity theft are not limited to fraudulent purchases; the destruction of your credit and reputation can be much more painful and difficult to recover.

The basics of prevention - what you can do
Identity thieves may target victims by phone or mail. These predators may pose as employees of service providers, utilities, banks and government agencies in order to lure you into revealing your Social Security number. Never give information over the phone without confirming the legitimacy of the organization. Phishing - posing as a trusted company to elicit personal information - is the digital form of this scam. Never give out passwords, personal identification numbers, social security data or credit card numbers through email. Always go to the site or business directly to access your account.

While identity theft is largely colored as an online phenomenon, most of these crimes begin in the less digital world of postal mail. Good offline prevention tactics begin with the safe handling of your mail and personal documents. Have your mail delivered to a locked mailbox or post office box. When disposing of documents, particularly bank or insurance statements or bills, it's best to use a shredder. Further, you should eliminate pre-approved credit offers; call (888) 5-OPT-OUT or visit Optoutprescreen.com to be removed from these mailing lists.

Your wallet can also provide the critical data identity thieves need. Limiting the amount of personal information you carry can mitigate damages associated with a lost or stolen wallet. Social Security cards should be kept in a secure place at home. Carry only a few checks at a time and only necessary credit cards.

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