We often take our liberties for granted. What you know life to be can suddenly change if youve been a victim of identity theft.
While youve been busy with your day-to-day life someone could have stolen your personal information and racked up debts or committed fraud all with your name on it. What happens then can be anything from being denied employment, credit or even being arrested for a crime you didnt commit.
Identity theft is that serious.
Victims of identity theft can spend years paying back debts or fighting to restore their credit as well as their reputation. Finding out you are a victim of identity theft can be frightening and a source of anxiety even after youve resolved the issue.
According to a survey conducted by the FTC (Federal Trade and Commission) 4.6% of Americans involved in the survey responded that they had been a victim of identity theft within the past year. That means about 10 million Americans dealt with some form of identity theft from using existing credit cards to setting up new accounts or giving false identification when arrested for a crime.
It doesnt stop there. The cost of clearing up the theft ranged...