"Identity Theft" is no longer someone else's problem.

If you write checks, use credit or debit cards, buy a house or buy a car, you are at risk of becoming a "Victim of Identity Theft".

A recent survey by MSNBC reported that approximately 47% of all respondants were not concerned with becoming a "Victim of Identity Theft". These are the same people that don't use cross-cut shredders, review their credit files and use unsecured web sites.

This past week, "America's No. 1 White Collar Crime of Identity Theft was elevated to "Murder".

A Fort Worth, Texas Policeman was murdered while trying to serve a warrant on a suspected member of an "Major Identity Theft Ring". See the following links covering two stories on this incident:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10295318/from/RL.1/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10273301/from/RL.1/

So the next time a clerk ask's you for identification, please smile and say thank you. His actions are protecting you from becoming a "Victim of Identity Theft".

For Robert, in Maine.

I have been involved with "Identity Theft" when it was called "Check Fraud" and "Credit Card Fraud".
Has the constant TV reports and tips stopped the escalation of "Identity Theft". NO!......WHY?

I haven't become a victim, so what the media is reporting is not important to me. Most people forget about these report within three to five days.

However, if you become a victim, you want to know everything about it.

I meet ten to twenty victims a week in my business and the only thing that changes, is the face of the victims. When you have someone writing a check for groceries and by giving their driver's license to someone, they become a victim. I have victims being arrested for check fraud, which was commited by someone else.

Robert, be thankful you live in Maine. Less than 20 of the 50 states in America have what you have. Also thank your state legislators for passing your new "Identity Theft Freeze Credit Bureau File Law" that goes in effect Feb 6, 2006. If you live in Texas, you have to be a "Victim of Identity Theft" first before you can freeze your credit files.

That's like letting the horses out first and then closing the barn door.

For seven months I worked with NBC Nightly News on how to tell this story given the secure nature of the man and his company who are paid by financial institutions to test and improve their security policies, procedures and technology. Very little is known about how financial companies protect critical assests like consumer's personal data. Now, Americans will watch first hand on NBC Nightly News the extra mile some financial institutions go to protect consumers' personally identifiable information.

I disagree with the other viewers who posted and stated that this kind of story is more important than world news. Surely most crime prevention "tips" that are conveyed in a the constant TV reports about identity theft are little more than common sense -- shred anything with your credit card on it, be on the lookout for suspicious activity, etc. National newscasts have the responsibility to focus on news and information that we simply would not learn about if it was not for their ability to use resources and sources effectively.

I think that crime prevention stories or tips should be included on a regular basis in newscasts - both locally and nationally. Our exposure to crime risks is a daily fact and not all people are aware of the risks, the options, or the dangers. Although the news of the world is certaintly important, most people are more likely to suffer some kind of victimation that could greatly impact their life rather then experience a terrorist attack or world wide disaster. Staying safe is applicable to everyone, regardless of your lifestyle, where you live, your income level, etc.

What timely coverage. This should be at the front ahead of the war in IRAQ.