The 2009 Identity Fraud Survey by Javelin Strategy & Research found that the number of identity fraud victims has increased 22 percent from 2007 to 2008 to 9.9 million adults. The survey indicates, historically, higher rates of fraud occur during economic downturns.
 
More than half of all identity theft victims discover that their identity was stolen by monitoring their bank and credit card accounts, according to the FTC.
 
To help protect your identity this holiday season follow these tips:

• Keep the amount of personal information in your purse or wallet to the bare minimum.
• Guard your credit card when making purchases. Use your hand as a shield when using ATM machines or making long distance phone calls with phone cards.
• Always take credit card or ATM receipts. Do not throw receipts into public trash containers.
• Proceed with caution when shopping online. Make sure that you are buying from a reputable retailer with a secure network.
• Monitor your accounts. Do not rely on your credit card company or bank to alert you of suspicious activity. Carefully monitor your bank and credit card statements to make sure all transactions are accurate. If you suspect a problem, contact your credit card company or bank immediately.
• Order a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus. A law that took effect in 2004 entitles you to one free credit report per year. Make sure it is accurate and includes only those activities you have authorized. The three major credit bureaus are Equifax, TransUnion and Experian.
• Place passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, any part of your social security number or phone number, or any series of consecutive numbers.
• Do not give out personal information. Whether on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet, do not divulge sensitive information or your social security number unless you initiated the contact, are familiar with the person or company and are confident that they have a secure line. 
• Shred, shred, shred.

Identity theft protection and resolution services are included in some homeowners and auto policies at no additional cost. The service provides consumers with a fraud specialist to assist and guide them through the process of restoring and protecting their identity. Contact your insurance agent to find out what kind of coverage is available.

Source: The Insurance Information Institute