Identity theft seems to be one of those crimes that happen to other people. That is, unless you are one of the nearly nine million victims in the United States in 2006 who lost an average of $6,383 to identity theft. A federal crime since 1998, identity theft cost those U.S. victims $56.6 billion in 2006.

Identity theft involves fraud connected to any activity involving use of another person's identity without that person's permission. There are four categories: financial identity theft, using another person's name and Social Security Number to obtain goods and services; criminal identity theft, posing as another person when apprehended for a crime; identity cloning, using another person's information to assume his or her identity in daily life; and business identity theft, using another person's business name to obtain credit.

On average, those victimized by identity theft spent at least 40 hours in resolving the problems created by the crime. In most cases—73 percent in 2003—identity theft involved a credit card, and according to the Identity Theft Resource Center, it creates an emotional impact equal to that of a violent crime.

Yet, a few precautions can make the possibility of identity theft less likely. A brochure from the __________ Bar Association and the American Bar Association Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section outlines suggestions for avoiding identity theft and a list of Web sites and organizations that can help protect your privacy and your credit.

A list of other steps you can take to safeguard your identity can be found at: www.abanet.org/genpractice/magazine.2006/dec/identitylooters.html

A copy of the brochure is available by contacting the __________ Bar Association by phone at XXX-XXX-XXXX or email: __________@____________.org.

Note to Bar Associations: The brochure referenced is available at www.abanet.org/tips/publicservices/IdentityTheftBrochure.pdf. There is space on the cover for you to add your association's name and contact information.

© 2007 American Bar Association