What’s Your Identity Theft Risk Level?

Where you live and your age could have a profound effect on just how likely you are to become a victim of identity theft.  New studies are showing that where you live can greatly change the likelihood of you becoming a victim of identity theft.  Larger populations tend to have much, much higher concentrations of identity theft, such as the big cities like Los Angeles, and New York.  A lot of this is due to improper disposal of trash and personal information.  You should never just place any piece of paper, or junk mail that has any personal information contained on it in the trash, shred everything that has your name and address.  Especially shred anything like utility bills, or car payments, or credit card bills, because those are an identity thief’s dream find.

Nothing you put in the trash is safe, don’t forget that.

Another study also found that people in the age range of 30-39 are at the highest risk for identity theft, opposed to the common belief that mostly senior citizens fall victim.  Which means middle-aged persons need to be the most careful with their sensitive information.  Use caution, shred everything relatively important, and don’t give out your information unless you’re absolutely positive that you can trust the person or company with everything you tell them.

Statistics also show that the younger you are the less likely you are to fall victim.  Take 18 year olds for example, they are in the lowest percentage of identity theft victims, but that’s no reason not to take every necessary precaution.  A careless slip up today could haunt you tomorrow.

Roughly 9-10 million people fall victim to identity theft each year, which doesn’t seem like a whole lot, considering how large the population of the US is, but that number seems to grow every year.  Not to mention numerous people that have had their identity stolen once tend to fall victim again and again.  Which just means, take every precaution possible with your personal information, because in the information age we’re in, that identity is all you have.