Nearly 9 million Americans had personal info stolen in 90 days on clarkhoward.com

It's been 12 years since Clark had his first call about ID theft on the show. Back then there was no name for the crime; now it's become routine. The Identity Theft Resource Center reports that in the first 90 days of this year, the personal info of 8.5 million Americans was stolen from company, government, hospital, university and bank databases.

ID theft is out of control because banks don't know who they're doing business with anymore. Sadly, the parties that can do the most are doing the least. Banks, credit card companies, retailers and credit bureaus don't care about the damage ID thieves can do to your life. The police departments, meanwhile, have too many other responsibilities to address ID theft.

Doing a credit freeze is the only way to protect yourself. You'll get a secret code that you can use to thaw your credit. That way, even if a criminal steals your identity, they can't do anything with it because they don't have the secret code. The credit bureaus intentionally make the process of applying for a credit freeze difficult. Clark has compiled a guide to help you navigate the process.

What others are saying

Idenitity Theft
I am one of many that has their idenity stolen by Karri Yepez (or whatever her name is). I also know of 2 other families that have been victimized by this person. When will she be caught and convicted???? I would love to be there in court and testify as I know others want to.
By Loey Howard @ 09/16/08 10:29:43 AMreport abuse
Identity theft
Mine and others that I know have had their identity stolen by the same person, Karri Yepez. She is now wanted in 3 states by the FBI and is still using my ID for her personal good. Stop this woman! She has changed our lives considerably and as mentioned by Alecia, the police, sherriff's office, even detectives are too busy to care. What can we do to "catch a thief"? I need to know what to do next after all avenues have been exhausted.
By Loey @ 06/16/08 12:24:39 PMreport abuse
Credit Card Companies
When someone steals your credit card and purchases something, the store is responsible for the charge. Therfore, no loss to the c.c. company. A fellow parent at my child's school had her purse stolen. Within a matter of 15 minutes there were over $2000 in charges. Most of the charges were for visa gift cards . The store had the thieves on video. However, the police told her that they were too busy to deal with it, and would send out an investigator within the next month. They even told her to file the police report online. Credit card companies need to do more. What happened to the Citicard w/ photo several years ago? I would also like to see them do away with the commercials that emphasize the fact that no id is required for a Visa Check Card. Id should always be required.
By Alecia @ 04/29/08 11:25:05 AMreport abuse
Credit report companies and credit card lobby still rule. As long as they have more influence on politicians than do the people, it won't change.

the freeze and thaw needs to be quick and efficient!

utilites, rent, insurance, etc use of credit reporing needs to be outlawed. If its not to establish credit, should not be able to be used. Anyone who is paying up front and month to month is not in need of having their credit guaranteed. That way people could just choose to stay out of the whole credit report system!
By Doris @ 04/29/08 10:55:28 AMreport abuse
Credit Bureaus making freezing credit difficult.
The credit bureaus make it difficult because not only do they make money from selling credit reports, they also make money from selling our names and credit ratings to marketeers who want to us to sign up for those "pre-approved" credit offers. When we freeze our credit, we cut off a revenue stream from those people. And if our identity is stolen they don't care because it's really no skin off of their nose.
It's a sad world we live in that it's extremely difficult to even live without credit. You need a rating to get a job, rent a car, get a hotel room, pass any sort of security clearance.
Someone once said to me that we are slaves to the banks. I'm starting to believe it.
By A listener @ 04/28/08 04:34:53 PMreport abuse

Idenitity Theft

I am one of many that has their idenity stolen by Karri Yepez (or whatever her name is). I also know of 2 other families that have been victimized by this person. When will she be caught and convicted???? I would love to be there in court and testify as I know others want to.

By Loey Howard @ 09/16/08 10:29:43 AMreport abuse

Identity theft

Mine and others that I know have had their identity stolen by the same person, Karri Yepez. She is now wanted in 3 states by the FBI and is still using my ID for her personal good. Stop this woman! She has changed our lives considerably and as mentioned by Alecia, the police, sherriff's office, even detectives are too busy to care. What can we do to "catch a thief"? I need to know what to do next after all avenues have been exhausted.

By Loey @ 06/16/08 12:24:39 PMreport abuse

Credit Card Companies

When someone steals your credit card and purchases something, the store is responsible for the charge. Therfore, no loss to the c.c. company. A fellow parent at my child's school had her purse stolen. Within a matter of 15 minutes there were over $2000 in charges. Most of the charges were for visa gift cards . The store had the thieves on video. However, the police told her that they were too busy to deal with it, and would send out an investigator within the next month. They even told her to file the police report online. Credit card companies need to do more. What happened to the Citicard w/ photo several years ago? I would also like to see them do away with the commercials that emphasize the fact that no id is required for a Visa Check Card. Id should always be required.

By Alecia @ 04/29/08 11:25:05 AMreport abuse

Credit report companies and credit card lobby still rule. As long as they have more influence on politicians than do the people, it won't change.

the freeze and thaw needs to be quick and efficient!

utilites, rent, insurance, etc use of credit reporing needs to be outlawed. If its not to establish credit, should not be able to be used. Anyone who is paying up front and month to month is not in need of having their credit guaranteed. That way people could just choose to stay out of the whole credit report system!

By Doris @ 04/29/08 10:55:28 AMreport abuse

Credit Bureaus making freezing credit difficult.

The credit bureaus make it difficult because not only do they make money from selling credit reports, they also make money from selling our names and credit ratings to marketeers who want to us to sign up for those "pre-approved" credit offers. When we freeze our credit, we cut off a revenue stream from those people. And if our identity is stolen they don't care because it's really no skin off of their nose.
It's a sad world we live in that it's extremely difficult to even live without credit. You need a rating to get a job, rent a car, get a hotel room, pass any sort of security clearance.
Someone once said to me that we are slaves to the banks. I'm starting to believe it.

By A listener @ 04/28/08 04:34:53 PMreport abuse

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Apr 28, 2008 -- Nearly 9 million Americans had personal info stolen in 90 days

What others are saying