Identity theft is a serious crime. Victims report stress and trauma similar to that suffered by victims of armed robbery. Feelings of rage, helplessness and personal are common.

ID theft is expensive. Victims pay an average of $1,200 in out of pocket expenses just to clean up the mess.

Did you know:

• Organized national and global crime rings are involved in every aspect of Identity Theft. It's low-risk and profitable.
• Between 9 and 15 million honest people like you are victims every year.
• Total losses in the U.S. from ID theft in 2006 soared to $15.6 billion dollars.
• One in 6 Americans are directly affected by identity theft.
• A sharp thief can swipe your identity - your life - in a few hours or even a few minutes. Restoring your good name can take years.
• Unless they're stopped early, thieves use a stolen identity an average of 30 times.
• Identity theft is often connected to someone you know, work with or to people who have been in your home, such as construction workers.