And because your billing statements are being sent to a different address, it may take some time before you become aware that someone is using your card. Criminals may also be able to open up new accounts on your name and use it without paying the bills. You will realize this as a problem when the delinquent accounts turn up on your credit report. Any holder of information identifiers of social security number, credit cards, bank account number, driver s license, health care, and other financial sources is at risk. Everyone is vulnerable, offline or online. Households, telephone booths, and garbage areas are common places where criminals loiter around to look for their prey. Hackers may be able to get their hands on such information that they can use for a number of crimes using an unwilling victim s identity. Anyone can be a victim of identity theft. If you have a credit card, you can be a potential victim. If you hand out your credit card in restaurants and other establishments, you are at risk of identity theft. Losing your identity over the internet Having someone steal your identity seem to be the stuff that science fiction books and movies have on their convoluted plots. But that was before before the rise of technological advancement, before the creation of the world wide web. Now, identity theft is no longer a dream for some hackers and internet con artists. Now imagine this-you are hounded by credit collectors for purchases you have not made, or worse-you are wrongfully apprehended for a crime you most certainly did not commit. How did this happen? Your personal information and sensitive numbers were never physically separated from you. Unfortunately, carelessly giving away your social security number or other sensitive information may put you at risk for identity theft. Identity theft is a very rampant and not easily toppled crime affecting lives and property of peaceful and law-abiding individuals. Before spending effort on legal suits, why not do preventive measures to avoid waste of time dealing with the consequences of being a helpless victim? The common saying still prevails: "Prevention is better than cure.