It is estimated that victims of identity theft in America spend an average of $1,200 in out of pocket expenses and an average of 175 hours on their efforts to resolve the issues caused by identity theft. That is over a week taken up by talking to banks, credit card companies, credit reporting agencies, and police.

Of course, the statistical averages take into account the most minor cases of identity fraud as well as the huge identity theft cases. For the unlucky American citizens who fall victim to serious identity fraud, the out of pocket costs can run into many thousands of dollars, and the time spent unravelling the problems can drag on over several months (or even years in some cases).

There is one aspect of identity theft in America that does not appear in the statistics, because it is impossible to measure, and that is the cost in terms of human suffering. Being the victim of identity theft is horribly traumatic, and it is likely that the affects will continue to trouble the victim for years to come.

Identity theft is not a new crime, but it has only become widespread over the past few years. Therefore, the long term damage victims can suffer is only just starting to reach the stage where meaningful statistics can be gathered. There are reports of identity theft victims exhibiting symptoms of post traumatic stress; problems with anxiety and feelings of panic are not uncommon.

Having a stranger use your credit cards to run up debts in your name is a bad enough experience, but identity thieves can also obtain your medical and social security benefits by using stolen information.

You could be refused credit because of debts incurred in your name by an identity thief. You could face the threat of imprisonment if an identity thief commits a crime while using your identity. You could face bankruptcy proceedings due to the actions of an identity thief.

Medical identity fraud is becoming widespread in America. If you are targeted in this way, the consequences for your health could be serious, and even life-threatening. You could be given inappropriate treatment in hospital due to identity theft; if an identity thief has used your identity to obtain medical treatment, these details could be mixed up in your medical history.

Identity theft is about more than financial cost, it is a violation which can leave the innocent victim suffering from symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder for years to come. The impact on a victim’s whole family can be so devastating that they never fully recover from the ordeal.

Identity theft in America must be controlled, but we cannot rely upon the authorities to halt the spread of identity related crime; every single person must be alert to the way identity theft is committed and take every possible precaution to protect his/her own privacy.

Fortunately, identity theft in America is one crime wave that can be halted by peaceful means. Careful conservation of private details and regular monitoring of bank and credit card statements and other financial data are the foundation of keeping your identity safe.