What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.

The crime takes many forms. Identity thieves may rent an apartment, obtain a credit card, or establish a telephone account in your name. You may not find out about the theft until you review your credit report or a credit card statement and notice charges you didn’t make—or until you’re contacted by a debt collector. This could occur years after the actual theft.

How serious is Identity Theft?
Identity Theft is on everyone’s mind.  Some consumers victimized by identity theft may lose out on job opportunities, or be denied loans for education, housing or cars because of negative information on their credit reports. In rare cases, they may even be arrested for crimes they did not commit.  Victims of medical identity theft may have erroneous patient data - that of the identity thief - in their file.  Imagine, at an upcoming surgery, receiving a cocktail of drugs meant for a heart condition that you don’t have.

According to the American Consumer Institute, 63% of consumers stated they were ‘very concerned’ with identity theft.  In the midst of the global financial crisis, 68% of those surveyed by Unisys are extremely or very concerned about the security of their credit or debit card data. 66% expressed a high level of concern regarding identity theft. Compare that to 58% who have the same level of concern about terrorism and war, and 41% who fear the possibility of a serious health epidemic.

Identity theft affected 9.9 million victims in 2008—a 22% increase from 2007.  In 2007, lost or stolen identity information cost individuals $45 billion—an average of $4,849 per incident. Households with yearly incomes above $70,000 are twice as likely to experience identity theft as those with salaries under $50,000.

What does it mean to ‘recover’ your identity?
The identity compromises that occurred in the past will have to be addressed with your banking institutions, creditors, and credit bureaus in order to clear your history and satisfy the debt collectors.

The filing of police reports, fraud alerts, and Federal, State, and Private agency affidavits must be initiated in the present to stop the identity theft in its tracks.

Replacement of personal documents that may have been the source of the compromise, such as driver’s license, passport, or social security card, will assist you from being a victim of identity theft in the future.

C.L.E.A.R. does all of the above to restore your identity to pre-theft status.  And more.