In the United States alone, this is the fastest growing crime. In 2002, the Federal Trade Commission or simply put the FTC reported 43 percent of the fraud complaints they received where for identity theft. With the 2003 report, the incidents reached close to 10 million.

For every five families, there is always one who will fall prey to these thieves. It is hard not to be a victim even when every precaution in the book has been taken. Even though it seems you have safe guarded your data, the thieves always manage to stay a step ahead.

Understand that everything you do leaves a trail. Whether you use your pin number, write a check, sign up for a credit card or even order something online, thieves, if they want, will get your information.

No matter how hard you try, there lurks the possibility that existing information can still find their way to the identity thieves. Be aware of this fact and cautious with whom you give your vital data out to. Knowing this tactic, can put you above those who just give out their information.

It has been estimated that people spend approximately $500 and more than 30 hours to resolve. Some cases begin from a credit getting stolen to a person's identity being completely "kidnapped". These crimes are hard to prevent. Because of this, identity theft is hard to correct.

Identity theft is considered a white collar crime. It is because the thieves get in touch with the person directly to steal the information by deception and lies. They will also try and get any money from them that they can.

This crime does not need face to face contact for the thief to steal your identity or your cash. The ID theft is not committed just for the sake of having it but rather using it for other criminal means including to commit fraud.

Until 1998, the federal law had not caught up with this type of crime. In fact, it wasn't until that year, that cases of a bigger magnitude started to show up. It was then that people began to see they needed a heavier sentence imposed on those who committed the fraud in the first place.

Thanks to these numerous cases, the laws were changed so some of these could be used as prosecuting the thieves. Some were changed or enhanced to repair their credit reports or recoup their losses and reputations.

The primary identity theft statute is 18 U.S.C.