Most of us know that identity theft is on the upswing. Many of us, however, do not understand just how significant the problem really is. Identity theft has been labeled an epidemic and government sources have termed it the crime of the millennium. It affects people from a variety of socioeconomic groups and costs the economy billions of dollars.

From a large perspective, its impacts are severe. Trust is the underpinning of a market economy and when acts of identity theft and fraud occur, that trust is undermined. The entire economy suffers on a perceptual level, as a result.

Additionally, in this age of concern about national security, identity theft is a frightening proposition. Criminals and terrorists have been known to function under assumed names and false identities. Identity theft may be a truly dangerous problem for America and the world.

It also has a very personal impact on victims. There are financial losses, required expenditures in time to correct problems and potentially ruined credit ratings with which to deal. These crimes may have caused people to miss job opportunities or to miss an opportunity to purchase a new home.

There are psychological ramifications, as well. Victims feel vulnerable and unsafe after dealing with what is usually a faceless criminal who has seemingly chosen them at random. People who experience identity theft experience a great deal of frustration and stress.

There are few crimes with an impact as far ranging as that of identity theft.

It is possible to decrease your risk of victimization. This is best done by acquiring a solid knowledge base on the subject of identity theft and then implementing a series of countermeasures designed to prevent the crime from occurring in the first place, in conjunction with a solid strategy to use in response to any incursion, should it still occur.

Some of the steps are as simple as handling your mail better or changing the information that they have banks print on their check blanks. Other answers to the identity theft problem require more substantive work on the part of the individual, especially in those cases where one is responding to an offense.

The best way to improve your overall approach to the problem is by fully understanding your rights with respect to matters related to identity theft.

Everyone interested in fighting identification theft should understand the nature of the current federal and state laws governing the matter. They should be aware of pro consumer aspects of current laws both as a means of defense and response. Understanding your rights in the face of this crime spree is an important part of dealing with the problem.

How many people know about their right to free copies of their credit reports in the event of potential criminal activity related to their identity or personal information?

How many people have even heard of FACTA legislation or its 2005 amendment providing all of us with a powerful tool to better protect ourselves from becoming another statistic in the ongoing crime wave of identity theft?

In all honesty, most people are not aware of their rights under the law. This makes defending against identity theft more difficult and can complicate responding to an identity theft incident considerably.

Everyone should read pertinent laws regarding ID theft and seek out critical information that will help them navigate through the legalese and toward a safer future. They need to know what they can do to help themselves based on current legislation and how to do it right.

Handy guides are available outlining all of the steps you can take to defend yourself, and they also focus on what the law allows victims to do if they have experienced identity theft or simply want to better protect against it.

The increase in identity crimes has created attention levels that have spurred legislators into action. As a result, laws are on the books that can help victims. However, in order for them to function, the victim or potential victim must know they exist and how to avail himself or herself of them. As is so often the case, knowledge is power.