Identity theft is a real threat and in more ways than you think

Identity theft is the fastest growing BUSINESS in the world. I say business because it has even surpassed the crime of drug trafficking in the United States. This is no longer just a crime.

There are over TEN thousand websites dedicated to selling someone else's identity. Anyone can go to one of these sites and buy themselves a new ID card, social security number, or health card for about $45.

The number of cases of identity theft is staggering, approx 8.1 million identities were stolen in 2010! This is only the reported cases! In truth, there is no way of knowing how many cases there are due to the nature of the theft. It takes years for most people to even realize they have become a victim of identity theft.

No.

I have heard people say they can not have their identity stolen because they don't have credit cards, they don't own a computer, or they don't have good credit so "who cares, let them do what they want, maybe they will fix my credit."

I have to stop here. Tell me we are not this ignorant as a nation! Everything you do is processed through a computer. PERIOD. If you have a social security number, the government has a copy of it on file, the credit bureau has a copy of it on file, the hospital has a copy of it on file, YOU ARE IN THE SYSTEM & the system in computerized! These are the very systems that are being attacked now.

Identity theft is no longer about someone going though your garbage! Why would they do that when they can hack into the computer server at your place of employment & get even better information.

Think about how many times you have been to the doctors office in your life time. How about your kids? What was the 1st thing they asked for? Your social security number.

When was the last time you filled out a job application? What does it ask for? Your social security number. Not only that but think about this, when you were a teenager how many places did you apply for a job? It doesn't even have to be recently!

It is everyday people who are stealing your identity now too. Think about the the turn around at your job, what do you for a living? How many jobs are out there where a person can come in contact with your social security number & other personal information about you. How do we know these people won't get frustrated with their job one day & just walk out with 100's of peoples private information? 

There is no place to hide, no place that thieves cannot access your information now in some way shape or form. They only thing left is to be "in the know."

There are more things at risk in your wallet than just your financial information.

• Medial information/ insurance cards
• Drivers license/ photo ID
• Character/ criminal
• Social Security
• Financial 

Medical insurance cards are the number one item for sale on the black market right now. If someone was to get a hold of your insurance card they could do more damage than you might think. For starters, they could cause your policy to be canceled, or max out your benefits, or keep you from ever getting health insurance again. Lets say a someone uses your info and changes your blood type, then you go and get into a car accident, cant talk, the hospital has to piece together your information from insurance info, you get a blood transfusion, they now have given you the wrong blood type. Wow. 

Say you go to the hospital for an emergency and someone has stolen & used your insurance & has now changed some of your information. You go in telling the nurse about yourself and the information doesn't match up. Due to the HIPPA laws, she will close the file and tell you "sorry, this isn't you, I can no longer discuss this medical information with you."

If someone has your drivers license, they now have access to your address, full name, age, birth date, and license number. By using the license they could cash checks, write checks, use anything in your wallet, rack up points on your license by getting tickets in your name or worse, get arrested. All the would have to do is pass as you in the picture (which given the way most women dye their hair, or most of us gain/lose weight someone could have a convincing story).

What if the person has no ID card, no finger prints in the system, no way of tracing them at all what so ever & they use your name? 

The possibilities here are only limited by the creativity of the thief. Everything in this country is tied down to our social security number. A person could open credit card accounts, get loans, go to college, cash in on your retirement, apply for government services, earn wages & not pay taxes, the possibilities here are almost endless.

Last but not least, the first thing most of us think of when we think "identity theft" is someone stole my credit card information. Financial identity fraud is the most common known form of ID theft, yet is not the most common. However it is probably the most preventable form of Identity theft there is. 

There is only one way to fight back, know your stuff! Gain power by knowing what happens to your information, where it is going, and where it has been. Ask what someone is going to do with your info when they require it. Know your rights! You DO NOT have to provide ANYONE with your social security number unless they can provide written evidence that they have safety measures taken to protect your identity.

There are numerous companies out there today that offer ways to monitor your credit, but do they really monitor your identification?

Insurance companies are also now offering identity theft protection as an option but still, are they really monitoring your identity or just your credit?

I employ you to research this and find out what is it they really cover. Most plans that I have found only offer me protection of my credit!

Every single plan I research can only offer me this solution; "we will freeze your credit & send you a do it yourself kit in the mail."

Reports show that on average a person will spend 5000+ hours working with the credit bureaus & credit card companies on fixing their OWN credit. Thats over 2 years of working a 40 hour a week job!

But what if I am worried about more than my Credit?

I have found only one company that offers protection of more than just my credit.

• The company is called Kroll Background of America.
• The product is the Identity Theft Shield plan offered by Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc.

This is the ONLY product in AMERICA that offers a RESTORATION plan. This company will go to work for you to fix your identity.

This is a hand in glove plan that is offered in combination with legal services that is with out a doubt the best plan on the market. The only problem is, how do you get it? Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc. is a direct sales marketed product. Word of mouth in other words. Well here are my words, go to their website & research it. Ask around and see if you know someone who can offer this to you. It is well worth it.