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Identity Theft Protection

If you are concerned about identity theft or have been the victim of identity theft, using an identity theft protection service is one way to help you get peace of mind. Easily compare and select an identity protection product using our guide below. These products offer daily credit report monitoring, e-alerts, fraud resolution assistance, and credit score features. You may also wish to review other free credit score trial and credit-monitoring services.

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Identity Theft Protection

American Express Identity Theft Protection
Identity Hawk LogoIdentity HawkIdentity Lookout LogoIdentity LookoutMy ID Alerts LogoMy ID AlertsPrivacy Guard LogoPrivacy Guard
Order NowOrder NowOrder NowOrder Now
7 7 day free trial*7 7 day trial for only $1*2424/7 instant fraud alerts3030 day free trial*
33-Bureau Credit Monitoring33-Bureau Credit Monitoring11 ID risk score & monitoring33-Bureau Credit Monitoring
Up to $1,000,000 insuranceUp to $1,000,000 insuranceUp to $1,000,000 insuranceID Theft Coverage: $1,000,000
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*$14.95/month after trial
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*$12.95/month after trial
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*$4.95/month after trial
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*$14.99/month after trial
What is Identity Theft?

Identity theft is America's fastest-growing crime. The identities of millions of Americans are stolen every year, depriving them of billions of dollars and ruining their credit...read more

Tip: Safekeeping Your Identity

A name and a Social Security number is all an identity thief needs to do some serious damage. So be stingy with sharing your Social Security number. And don’t carry your Social Security card around with you. Keep it safe in a locked drawer or filing cabinet with other important documents that have sensitive information. For a complete list of tips, see Credit.com’s guide to safekeeping your identity.

The True Cost of Identity Theft

What is identity theft? There's no getting around it, identity theft is one of the most pervasive and harmful crimes inflicted on Americans.

Pervasive, because it impacts more than 11 million Americans annually. Harmful, because identity theft can separate a consumer from a good chunk of his or her bank account – and potentially ruin one's financial identity. Which is one of the many reasons why identity theft protection has become a key resource for consumers to safeguard their financial well being.

» Read Latest: Name, SSN Is All a Thief Needs for Tax Fraud

But is that the limit, as onerous as it is, of identity theft? Hardly. There are plenty of other areas where the "true cost" of identity theft comes into play – and here's a look.

  • Time spent fixing the problem – Time is, after all, a commodity. And when you spend your valuable time tracking down all the data and documents needed to correct an identity theft situation, the clock keeps ticking. Studies show that the average victim of identity theft spends anywhere 60-200 hours working out of the situation. That's 60-200 hours very few busy consumers have on hand these days.
  • Ruined credit – If an identity thief absconds with your identity, and you don't discover the problem right away, that thief can drain your financial resources as easy as a drought can drain a swamp. Not only could that mean the loss of much, if not all, of your financial resources, it could also mean a huge hit to your credit reports and credit scores, as the thief goes on a spending spree in your name. Make no mistake, lousy credit can mean the loss of a home loan; the loss of a job; or the cancellation of your credit cards.
  • Emotional impact – According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, one of the most serious aftershocks from an identity theft experience falls on the emotional side. Specifically, the stress associated from dealing with the crime. Studies show that the emotional grief stemming from identity theft mirrors the same grief suffered by victims of violent crime.

The ITRC says that 40% of respondents in an identity theft survey reported "stressed family life" among the issues they dealt with after an identity theft situation.

Identity theft is a heinous crime. But don't think for a minute that it's all about the dollars and cents lost after the crime. The true cost of identity theft is much higher than that.