Americans have reported nearly 560,000 cases of identity theft nationwide so far in 2023 according to the Federal Trade Commission. Identity theft victims can be impacted in various ways, including not being able to use their credit cards or obtain a new loan — or, in more severe cases, becoming subject to criminal investigations. ID theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in America and it can cost a victim a significant amount of time and money to recover their information and repair their credit. As business increasingly moves toward e-commerce and away from face-to-face transactions, the risk of ID theft will only continue to grow. What is identity theft? ID theft occurs when personal information such as Social Security numbers, credit card or bank account information are obtained without permission. Once thieves have this information, they can use existing credit cards or open new ones to make purchases in the victim’s name, write bad checks or take out loans. If the theft is ...