(This article was provided to Pennsylvania newspaper editors as part of the statewide identity theft prevention campaign of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and more than 30 local bar association across the state.)

Common Sense Advice to Keep Identity Thieves Away This Holiday
By G. Clinton Kelley, Esquire

The busy holiday shopping season has arrived. Like most consumers, you will probably be using your credit cards and your debit cards more often.

Identity thieves are hoping you will. They�re also hoping that you will walk away from shopping counters and automated teller machines (ATMs) without taking receipts that contain information about your financial accounts. A few numbers is all it takes for thieves to �steal� your identity and pocket thousands of dollars.

The average dollar amount fraudulently charged or stolen in each identity theft is a staggering $92,893.

Identity theft is America�s fastest growing white collar crime. According to the Federal Trade Commission, almost 10 million Americans reported being victimized last year. That number is expected to grow. USA Today recently reported that identity theft is the number one criminal concern of law enforcement for the next decade.

Television commercials about mixed-up identities make the point that thieves can use your �identity� to buy merchandise and take cash advances. There are steps that all of us should take to avoid such identity theft:

• Don�t toss bank statements, credit card statements and pre-approved credit applications in the trash; invest in a paper shredder and use it.
  
• Don�t leave mail for pick-up in your mailbox; take it right to the post office instead.
  
• Retrieve mail as soon as you can because identity thieves do steal mail that contains personal information.
  
• When you leave home, only carry the credit cards you need and leave your Social Security card at home in a safe place.

  While most credit cards offer protection for charges that are not yours, fraudulent charges need to be reported quickly. Legally, you need to dispute �bad� charges within 60 days or you owe the money. Often, identity thieves establish credit in their victims� names and then change the addresses on the credit application. As a result, statements for the charges incurred are not mailed to victim. That being said, it�s wise to contact your creditors right away if bills are late or missing.

  Unfortunately, credit and financial theft is just the tip of the iceberg, accounting for 28% of all identity thefts. Other types of identity theft can land you in jail, cause your insurance premiums to increase, lead to coverage cancellation, cost you hard-earned money, and worse yet, damage your health

  Thieves are also stealing identities to gain access to medical testing and treatment, prescriptions, and health insurance benefits. According to a recent University of Connecticut study, if a thief steals your medical identity and has medical conditions or allergies that differ from your own, you may experience drug interactions or be wrongly denied life-saving treatment and medications. Victims of medical identity theft are being billed for treatments they did not receive. Others are being denied employment or life insurance because of medical conditions that they do not have. Still others are seeing their health insurance rates go up and their benefits cancelled.

  Character/criminal identity thieves are masking their criminal activities behind the identities of their innocent victims. Kiplinger magazine recently reported that innocent people are being arrested for crimes they did not commit and are being denied employment due to incorrect information in their criminal histories. Further, passports are being denied and security checks at airports are proving to be problematic.

  Innocent victims are having driving privileges revoked or suspended and their auto rates increased or canceled because thieves are using stolen driver�s licenses. People are also being arrested during otherwise routine traffic stops for violations they did not commit.

  Social Security Number thieves gain employment and earn income under stolen identification numbers. Experts in the field say these thieves are often earning income but not paying taxes.

  Experts suggest that costs associated with restoring your identity once it has been stolen are significant. The expenses in clearing your good name average $1,495, not including attorney fees. Further, you�ll invest 607 hours in the effort.

  Identity theft is about credit cards and a lot more. The problem is far-reaching and both time consuming and expensive to fix. Be vigilant in protecting your personal information and do all you can to keep identity thieves out of your life this holiday season and in the years ahead.

  G. Clinton Kelley is a Pittsburgh-based attorney who counsels businesses on identity theft issues. He writes on behalf of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, which provides information about identity theft protection on its Web site.