When a Social Security number is stolen, contacting the Social Security Administration can help to place a watch on its use as well (SSA 2009). This particular problem can lead to many complications, as obtaining a new Social Security Number can create many difficulties for the victim while keeping the old number might allow the thief to continue using the victim's identity (SSA 2009). Generally, though, a new number is not necessary to stop most identity thieves. The government also plays a major role both in preventing identity theft and in addressing both the victims and the thieves after the crime has been committed. The Social Security Administration has set limits on the number of replacement cards an individual may obtain, as well as new and more stringent methods of identity verification when fulfilling a request for replacement cards (SSA 2009). Though this can also make things more difficult for victims and potential victims of identity theft, it is a much-needed precaution in the prevention of identity theft. Consumers can also file detailed police reports, called Identity Theft Reports, with most local police agencies; it night be difficult to have a report taken due to jurisdictional issues, but persistence usually wins out over attempts to resist filing a report by the police department, and the Federal Trade Commission can also assist in filing reports (ITRC 2009; FTC 2009). The U.S. Department of Justice is also involved in prosecuting many cases of identity theft through various federal statutes, including several...

But with the proper safeguards and precautions, individual consumers can protect themselves against cases of egregious fraud and theft. If everyone took the same precautions, the number of identity thefts -- and the number of identity thieves -- would be greatly reduced. Until then, carefully monitoring financial information associated with one's name and Social Security Number will remain essential.
Works Cited

FTC. (2009). "About Identity Theft." Federal Trade Commission. Accessed 2 October 2009. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/about-identity-theft.html#shouldyoufileapolicereportifyouridentityisstolen

ITRC. (2009). Identity Theft Resource Center. Accessed 2 October 2009. http://www.idtheftcenter.org/index.html

SSA. (2009). "Identity Theft." Social Security Administration. Accessed 2 October 2009. http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_lva=&p_li=&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_page=1&p_cv=2.35&p_pv=&p_prods=&p_cats=16%2C35&p_hidden_prods=&cat_lvl1=0&p_search_text=&p_new_search=1&p_search_type=answers.search_nl

USDOJ. (2009). "Identity Theft." United States Department of Justice. http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/websites/idtheft.html#whatdoing