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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. This means that you or someone you know may have been victimized by some form of identity theft in the past or will likely experience some form of this crime in the future.

Identity theft occurs when personal information, such as your Social Security number or credit card numbers, are used without your permission to make purchases, obtain a credit card or other account in your name.

Identity theft costs the average victim nearly $4,000 and, more importantly, 175 hours of personal time to straighten out their problems and their credit. This does not include any potential increases in interest rates from creditors and insurance companies, where the financial impact can be even more dramatic, especially if the theft is left undetected. According to the FTC, it takes an average of 12 months for most consumers to even notice that a problem exists. And by then, it's too late. How can you protect yourself from the dangers of identity theft? Here are some suggestions.

Don't Give It Up!
Avoid falling prey to what are known as phishing scams, both over phone and through email. In a phishing scam, identity thieves pretend to be someone from your bank or credit institutions and simply ask you for your personal information. If someone contacts you and requests any personal information, don't give it to them. A financial institution or large company will rarely use email to obtain this kind of information. In fact, your bank and your creditors already have your information from when you originally opened the account. Verify who is requesting the data and why, and then call the institution yourself. One extra phone call could save you a lot of trouble and money.

Stay off the Pharm!
While phishing enables thieves to pilfer information from you, pharming is another kind of scam that takes the deception to the next level. Pharming is the process of hijacking your computer and stealing your personal information. A pharming site is designed to look just like the site you're trying to visit. However, enter your information on this fake site and not only can the site track your moves within it, it may also direct your computer to give up other personal information at a later time.

Be sure you are visiting the correct site, that the address is correct in the toolbar. Never enter a site through a pop-up advertisement window, and always be cautious before you sign in to any site. Often on these fake sites, you'll find unusual graphics, colors, or misspelled words, telltale signs that someone is trying to pharm your information.

Opt-out of Special Offers!
Visit www.optoutprescreen.com to cut down on the pre-approved offers from credit card and insurance companies that come in the mail. A lot of identity thieves do things the old-fashioned way: they rummage through your trash and collect your information. Be sure to shred any documents that contain your personal information before you throw it away.

Conduct a Credit Check-up!
Visit www.annualcreditreport.com to obtain a free credit report every 12 months. Review all three of your credit reports and look for any suspicious activity, unusual or inaccurate names or addresses, or any inquiries that were done without your knowledge. If you even suspect that your identity may have been stolen or compromised, call us right away. We'll pull your credit and review it together. If anything looks even remotely suspicious, we'll refer you to our credit improvement specialist right away to solve the problem and avoid any further damage.

Identity theft is now passing drug trafficking as the number one crime in the nation-with more than 15 million victims every year. Rather than lie awake at night worrying and wondering if your identity has been stolen, you can actually take a simple step to protect yourself...it's called a credit freeze (or, sometimes, a security freeze) which I discussed last week.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, about 1.6 million households have experienced some form of theft when it comes to their financial accounts. Here are some important tips for keeping your information safe and sound:

Just the Facts. Don't give unnecessary information like your date of birth and income level when you're filling out things like warranty cards or supermarket club cards. Share only what's really necessary in every situation.
Navigating the Net. Never post your address or your full date of birth on any social networking sites because both are pieces of information needed to steal your identity.
Searching for a Job? Never give a potential employer your Social Security number on an Internet job site. Also, thoroughly read the privacy policies of any online job boards to make sure they won't sell your information.
Safe Keeping. Never keep your Social Security number in your wallet, glove compartment, or any other easy-to-access place. Also, never have it printed on your checks or use it as your password.
Shred 'Em. Remember, when you're ready to get rid of old documents that contain important information, shred them with a cross cut shredder.
Protect Your Mail. If you have to mail something that contains sensitive information, use a secure mailbox (not the one at the end of your driveway).

The bottom line is this: When it comes to your personal information, share it on a need-to-know basis only!

Mortgage Interest Rates*

Rates as of Friday, 21st November, 2008:

*Rates are subject to change due to market fluctuations and borrower's eligibility.