If you still don’t think that you need to BE PROACTIVE in protecting yourself and your family from the nightmare of Identity Theft, take a look at a few of these real-life situations.

“My purse was stolen in December 1990. In February 1991, I started getting notices of bounced checks. About a year later, I received information that someone using my identity had defaulted on a number of lease agreements and bought a car. In 1997, I learned that someone had been working under my Social Security number for a number of years. A man had been arrested and used my SSN on his arrest sheet. There’s a hit in the FBI computers for my SSN with a different name and gender. I can’t get credit because of this situation. I was denied a mortgage loan, employment, credit cards, and medical care for my children. I’ve even had auto insurance denied, medical insurance and tuition assistance denied.” - From a consumer complaint to the FTC, January 2, 2001 “My wallet was stolen in December 1998. There’s been no end to the problems I’ve faced since then. The thieves used my identity to write checks, use a debit card, open a bank account with a line of credit, open credit accounts with several stores, obtain cell phones and run up huge bills, print fraudulent checks on a personal computer bearing my name, and more. I’ve spent the last two years trying to repair my credit report (a very frustrating process) and have suffered the ill effects of having a marred credit history. I’ve recently been denied a student loan because of inaccurate information on my credit report.” - From a consumer complaint to the FTC, February 22, 2001 “I’m tired of the hours I’ve spent on the phone and all the faxing I’ve had to do. When will it be over?” - From a consumer complaint to the FTC, March 13, 2001

“Tomorrow is Sunday so we won’t get any notices, but I’m not looking forward to Monday’s mail.” - From a consumer complaint to the FTC, November 13, 2001

“In November 2000, I found out that someone used my information to obtain a cell phone. Since then, I’ve been living a nightmare. My credit report is a mess. It’s a full-time job to investigate and correct the information.” - Fom a consumer complaint to the FTC, April 3, 2001

“ I applied for a loan in November 2000 and was told I had bad credit. I requested a credit report in November 2000 and found all sorts of crazy information on it. I’m single but was listed as married. When I renewed my driver’s license by mail, I was surprised to find someone else’s face on my license. This is a nightmare and requires a large amount of my time.” - From a consumer complaint to the FTC, October 5, 2001

“Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of - for credit is like fire; when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you once extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again. The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.” - Socrates

“A reputation once broken may possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep their eyes on the spot where the crack was.” - Joseph Hall

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” -Benjamin Franklin

“A lost good name is ne'er retriev'd.” - John Gay

“O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation!” -William Shakespeare

“My dear dear lord, The purest treasure mortal times afford Is spotless reputation.” - William Shakespeare

“A good reputation is more valuable than money.” - Syrus (Publilius Syrus)

“Better to die than to live on with a bad reputation.” - Vietnamese Proverb

“Glass, china, and reputation are easily cracked, and never mended well.” - Benjamin Franklin

“A good name, like good will, is got by many actions and lost by one.” - Lord Francis Jeffery

“The two most precious things this side of the grave are our reputation and our life. But it is to be lamented that the most contemptible whisper may deprive us of the one, and the weakest weapon of the other.” - Charles Caleb Colton

“More than 27 million Americans have been victims of identity theft in the last five years.... To deal with the problem, consumers reported nearly $5 billion in out-of-pocket expenses.” -The New York Times

"Stealing someone's identity to acquire -- and use -- new credit cards has become one of the most popular white-collar crimes today, according to fraud investigators from across the country." -Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

"This year alone more than 500,000 Americans will be robbed of their identities…with more than $4 billion stolen in their names." -CBSnews.com

"In one notorious case of identity theft, the US Department of Justice reported that the criminal incurred over $100,000 of credit card debt, obtained a federal home loan, and bought homes, motorcycles, and hand guns in the victim's name all the while calling his victim to taunt him." -US Department of Justice Web site

"The number of identity thefts in the U.S. has skyrocketed during the past 15 months." -CNN.com

"According to a convicted ID thief in Denver, CO, "On a good day I could make $5,000 in cash and another $7,000 to $8,000 in merchandise..." -CBSnews.com

"A recent report on identity theft warned that there is likely to be "mass victimization" of consumers within the next two years. The report said consumers should be extra careful to monitor all their financial transactions for unexplained account activity, withdrawals, or fund transfers." -The Gartner Group, a technology research group

"Every 79 seconds, a thief steals someone's identity, opens accounts in the victim's name and goes on a buying spree." -CBSnews.com

"Experts report that a victim can spend anywhere from six months to two years recovering from identity theft." -CNNfn.com

"Most people don't find out they have been a victim of a stolen identity until they are turned down for a loan or credit card. A copy of their credit report explaining the denial may unveil weeks or months of fraud." -CNNfn.com