By Catherine Powell
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| Image courtesy flickr |
What’s in a name? To Shakespeare it was the start of a line Romeo
used to woo the fair Juliet more than 400 years ago. In more modern times, the value of a name can
be vast, particularly if an identity thief manages to pilfer yours. According to Forbes Magazine, the cost of
identity theft during the past six years is more than $107 billion in the US
alone. What’s even worse than the
dollars and cents cost of this crime is the effect it can have on your family,
your friends and your job. That’s
because once stolen, an identity thief can use your good name to open
fraudulent bank accounts, acquire credit cards, duplicate your social sites and
even file for tax refunds with the IRS.
In short, once a thief gets hold of your personal information, they can
make your life a living hell that could take you months to bounce back
from. If you don’t want to see your good
name tarnished, there are some steps you need to take to protect your identity.
