According to a survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, identity theft affects about three percent of all households in the U.S., totaling an estimated 3.6 million families in the U.S each year. To put that in terms of money, identity theft costs an estimated $6.4 billion per year.

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, Social Security number, credit card number or other identifying information, without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes. Consumers whose identities have been stolen can spend months and years clearing up their good name and credit, not to mention the expenses that may be involved.

To protect yourself from identity theft, you should protect your social security number, your credit/debit cards, and your financial documents:

Social Security Number: Remove your SS number from your driver’s license and insurance cards, just as you should not put your social security number on your checks nor carry a copy in your wallet. If you have to provide your number for anything, offer only the last four digits and request that your number be taken off any loan applications.

Credit Cards/Debit Cards: Carry your credit/debit cards separately from your wallet. It is a good idea to keep a secured copy of all account numbers (and pin numbers), but never carry them with you. As well, sign all new cards you receive. Never leave your credit cards unattended and be alert for "peering eyes" when making purchases; do not leave ATM receipts behind and protect all accounts with a password. Check your account activity regularly and monitor it for accuracy and any discrepancies.

Financial Documents: Shred all of your personal information whenever possible and do not carry extra cards or identifying documents with you.