Mass. police say identity theft is on rise

"I only anticipate it [identity theft] getting worse. It’s on the rise," Det. Monica Himes of the Provincetown, Mass., police department said recently. It took one of her fellow officers three years to get his identity back, she said. The Federal Trade Commission says over 10 million Americans annually have their identity stolen. Kroll's Identity Theft Shield can help you restore yours.

Facebook friend hit by identity theft, bank account emptied

Think identity theft only happens to someone else? An Atlanta friend posted this on her Facebook page last week:

I have just experienced identity theft. Anyone on here have experience with what I need to do?? My bank account was wiped out on Monday with a fake driver's license that had my SS#, and they had my bank acct....#. They withdrew all funds at a Wachovia in Greenwood, S.C.

Since that time, the thief has also tried to open a Sears charge card.

I've discussed this issue on my Facebook group page for months. I am an agent for Kroll, one of the world's largest data security agencies. We can help my friend, and we can help prevent this from happening to you, and RESTORE things if it does. Call me at 404-358-1170.

California health care agency mails 50,000 envelopes with social security numbers printed on them

Nearly 50,000 envelopes with the recipients' Social Security Numbers printed on the labels were mailed out in early February by the California Department of Health Care Services health care agency, according to a story appearing in the Feb. 9, 2009 issue of the Sacramento Bee and repeated on many Internet sites.

The agency blamed an "internal error" and an outside vendor.

Here comes another rash of identity thefts.

ID theft in 2009 costs Americans more than $54 billion

According to the newly-released 2010 Identity Fraud Study by Javelin Strategy & Research, over 11.1 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2009, resulting in a financial loss of over $54 billion.

James Van Dyke, president and founder of Javelin, said fraudsters are becoming increasingly technology-savvy and are using personal information stolen in data breaches to open new accounts or to make changes to existing non-card accounts.

Through a partnership between Kroll, the world's largest security company, and Pre-Paid Legal, provider of legal plans to families and businesses for over 37 years, you can obtain the best protection against having your identity stolen, and will have the best companies working for you to restore your identity should it be compromised. Click here for more information and to become a member.