Identity Theft is a vast problem that grows with the years and the tough economic times. Identity theft affects nearly 5% of the world’s adult population. In 26 % of all cases, the fraud victim knew the person who stole their identity, and most often it is a family member who rips you off. The best way to protect yourself is to buy and use a paper shredder and a safe. Also the only organization you are legally required to give your Social Security Number is your employer and financial institutions, like a bank. The economic effect of identity theft is more than what people may think. Check fraud alone rose to 5.5 billion dollars in 2003. Because that money was taken from others instead of made legally, the economy shows a loss. The annual cost of identity theft to businesses is 53 billion dollars because if somebody gets the I.D of a business owner then they can funnel money out of that person’s business as well as their personal bank accounts. The American Bankers Association reported 677 million dollars of losses in 2003, which is a slight decline from 2001. Being that the article is a few years old, I would say that those numbers have gone way up since then. If somebody steals your identity, it could affect you in countless ways. All of a sudden your credit card will start being declined for insufficient funds. When you go home and check your bank account online, your money will have magically disappeared. A person could also open many credit cards in