Identity theft is a crime of impersonation where the thief will take your personal information and use it to assume your identity for personal financial gain. Approximately 15 million United States residents have their identities used fraudulently each year with financial losses totalling upwards of $50 billion.

Identity theft can happen to anyone at any time. Today’s modern technology and conveniences allow for multiple points of entry for thieves looking to gain access to personal data. Online retailers, smart phones, personal computers, public resumes, and community groups with poor security invite hacking and database breaches to give easy access points to your personal data for thieves.

The best defense is to be aware of the situation, actively work to limit access points, and work diligently to identify any suspicious activities.