By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist Blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

October 17 to 24 is National Protect Your Identity Week.

Identity theft claimed more than 10 million victims in 2008, a 22 percent increase over 2007.

Low-tech methods for stealing personal information are still the most popular for identity thieves, according to a report from Javelin Strategy and Research. Of the cases where consumers knew how their identity was compromised, stolen wallets and physical documents accounted for 43 percent of all identity theft, while online methods accounted for 11 percent.

The Council of Better Business Bureaus is partnering with the National Foundation of Credit Counseling in sponsoring the second annual identity protection week.

During the week, bureaus will offer identity theft protection events in communities across the nation. At the local events, consumers can take advantage of educational resources and free document shredding.

Consumers can find identity protection week educational events in their area by going to the Web site www.ProtectYourIDNow.org. The site also features an interactive quiz to help consumers assess their risk of identity theft; videos, blogs, and identity theft prevention tips. The Web site is also available in Spanish at www.cuidesuidentidad.org.

“In spite of doing everything right, consumers nonetheless can find themselves victimized and forced to spend time and money restoring their good name and good credit,” said Steve Cox, president and CEO of the council. “By providing educational tools and free document shredding as part of Protect Your Identity week, BBB continues to help communities guard against identity theft.”

For more information, see the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Site.

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