Targeting the most desperate in an economy that is taking a downturn, there are a number of ways identity thieves can steal your identity while you are searching for work online. Most everyone already knows not to enter a social security number or exact birth date on any job search site, but what if the opportunity is too good to pass up and the name of the potential employer seems legitimate? Would you become a victim if the company’s log were displayed in a job ad?

Whether done online or because someone stole your wallet and all your identifying information, when your life suddenly becomes a story of identity theft – restoring your good name takes work – it is hard to know where to start to stave off further damage and if possible curtail the damage that has already been done.

It is stomach wrenching to know that in the year 2007 alone there were 8.4 million victims of identity theft. Within the United States it is estimated that each year there is a heart stopping 9 million people to have their identity stolen.

Identity theft is no myth as nearly nine million people in the United States have their identity stolen each year. It costs fifty thousand dollars per year within the U.S. to resolve identity theft. It also takes forty hours to resolve the average case of identity theft and even longer to correct fraud activity on a credit report.

As identity theft cases are on the rise each year, protecting ourselves is a must. We are more cautious about what pieces of our mail we allow into the trash. We consistently shred bills and other private documents.

We do not dare provide personal details over the phone or online. As we take these precautions there is one method of protection that is not new but is proven to reduce identity theft.

Identity theft is real and it affects nine million Americans each year. We have to keep ourselves safe when we are surfing the Internet, speaking to a business over the phone and cautious of what we place in our trash.

For those in apartment buildings or duplexes a rural locking mailbox can sometimes seem like a burden. You have to have your key accessible to unlock your mailbox simply to receive junk mail and local advertisements.

The dangers of identity theft are real and the risk is great. You may become a victim simply by a person driving up to your mailbox and taking your mail. They then take your name and build a false life around it. They can apply for credit cards, loans and begin to make purchases all under your name.

Hand in hand with the growing problem of identity theft are the businesses that spring up surrounding the phenomenon. At times they may be selling tangible goods that will serve to safeguard your personal information. At other times they offer something akin to an insurance policy that will fiscally reimburse you if any of your personal information is misused and you suffer loss as a result. Should you pay for identity theft protection such as this or is that overkill?

As you drive down the country road, you notice the occasional mailbox that seems to be interspersed with lush vegetation or old trees. Usually found at the beginning of a driveway, you notice that while many of these kinds of boxes feature whimsical designs, hand painted names, and in some cases are artistically incorporated into the landscape, they all have one thing in common: they lock. While this may a somewhat novel concept to many a city dweller, it is a stark requirement in rural areas.