Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the U.S. It occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, driver's license number, Social Security number, credit card number, birth date or mother's maiden name to access your bank accounts, open new checking accounts or apply for credit cards and other loans. Many victims learn about identity theft after they are declined for a loan, receive a past due notice for a credit card or loan they did not open or are contacted by a collection agency for bad checks they never wrote.

While you can't entirely control whether you will become a victim, there are steps you can take to protect your identity and minimize your risk. If you think you've become a victim of identity theft or fraud, here's what to do.

Stay up to date with the latest identity theft trends and FBI warnings at ic3.gov.

Latest FBI Fraud Warning (07/08)
If you answer Yes to any of these questions, you may be the victim of a scam:

• Are you about to cash a check from an item you sold on the Internet, such as a car, boat, jewelry, etc?
• Is it the result of communicating with someone by email?
• Did it arrive via an overnight delivery service?
• Is it from a business or individual account that is different from the person buying your item or product?
• Is the amount for more than the item’s selling price?
• Are you sending money overseas?
• Did you win an international lottery you didn’t enter?
• Have you been asked to pay money to receive an
inheritance from another country?
• Are you receiving a commission for accepting money transfers through your bank and/or PayPal account?