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You never can be too careful when using the Internet. This is evident in the number of identity theft cases that take place annually-and even daily, weekly, and monthly. This pertains to making purchases as well as using free credit report services and shopping in traditional stores.

Statistics

According to Better Business Bureau and Javelin Strategy & Research, over 9 million cases of identity theft crimes have taken place now for two years in a row. Within the past five years there have been a total of over 30 million victims, as reported by agencies such as the FTC and BBB.

Some more interesting facts you might want to know can help you be safer. Take a look below:

• About 71% of fraud occurs within a week of someone’s personal identification being stolen. Sometimes the crime takes place almost immediately if it is a credit card being used that was stolen.
• Although online identity theft is on the rise, only about 11% of identity theft crimes originate here. Stolen wallets and physical documents make up for about 43% of all identity crimes.
• The breakdown of identity theft cases is as follows (2009): 26% credit card fraud, 18% utilities fraud, 17% bank fraud, 12% employment fraud, 5% loan fraud, 9% government fraud, 13% other. This of course are approximate numbers and 2010 stats are going to be different.

Ways Identity is Stolen

Your personally identifiable information can be stolen in a variety of different ways. Your credit cards and/or credit card digits is one of the most common forms of identity theft. This takes place as fraudulent websites set them selves up appearing as a legitimate company.

This often is the case when ordering a free credit report, which when it is legit can save you from credit card/identity fraud. However, if you enter information into a fake free credit report site you are in trouble, especially if you are entering credit card numbers or other personal data over a server that is not secure. Your financial and personal information is then stolen.

Also, numerous traditional brick-and-mortar stores are sometimes careless about asking for a picture I.D. when a purchase is made. So, when someone uses a stolen credit care it often passes through electronic credit card systems.

However, it is not just physical credit cards and credit card numbers that are stolen and exploited. Driver’s license and social security cards and numbers, birth certificates and birth dates, banking account numbers and checkbooks, and even credit reports are stolen.

Why Identity is Stolen

It is done for a variety of reasons. One of these reasons is to secure a home loan and another is to apply for a job, or to be able to find a way to have a utility or phone line turned on (i.e. using a child’s name). It could be even done to get away with committing a crime.