Why should I worry about identity theft

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The FBI reported in 1999 that identity theft is the fastest growing white-collar crime in the United States. Since that time, numerous reports have stated that instances of identity theft are steadily increasing. A July 2003 Gartner study, for example, claims that 3.4% of consumers in the United States were victims of identity theft during a yearlong period ending June 2003. And according to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission), identity theft victims on average lose ,767 each as a result of the crime. Given these statistics, it's important that consumers be aware of the threat and take precautions to prevent identity theft.