Identity Theft is America's fastest growing crime.

      Last year alone, more than 9.9 million Americans were victims of identity theft, a crime that cost them roughly $5 billion.

      The number of ID theft victims and their losses are probably much higher because it is hard to pin down.   Law enforcement agencies classify ID theft differently it can involve credit card fraud, Internet fraud, or mail theft, along with other crimes.

U.S. Postal Inspectors are charged with protecting the nation’s mail system and are the leaders in the fight against identity theft.

Read these tips to protect yourself from Identity Theft:

•  Review your consumer credit reports annually.

•  Shred and destroy unwanted documents that contain personal information.

•  Deposit mail in U.S. Postal Service collection boxes.

•  Don’t leave mail in your mailbox overnight or on weekends.

•  Report lost or stolen credit cards immediately

•  If you applied for a credit card and didn't receive it when expected, call the financial institution.

•  Sign new credit cards immediately--before someone else does.

•  Memorize your Social Security number and passwords. Don't use your date of birth as your password and don't record passwords on papers you carry with you.

•  Never leave transaction receipts at ATM machines, on counters at financial institutions, or at gasoline pumps.

•  Don't carry your Social Security card or birth certificate--leave them in a secure location.

•  Don't disclose credit card or other financial account numbers on a Web site unless the site offers a secure transaction.

•  Closely monitor the expiration dates on your credit cards and contact the issuer if you don't receive a replacement prior to the expiration date.

•  Beware of mail or telephone solicitations that offer prizes or awards--especially if the offeror asks you for personal information or financial account numbers.

•  Match your credit card receipts against your monthly bills and check your monthly financial statements for accuracy.

•  Watch for your monthly financial statements and bills. If you don't get them when expected, contact the sender.

•  Every year, order and thoroughly review copies of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies.

•  Never give personal identifying information over the telephone or the Internet unless you initiated the contact.

If you think you're a victim of Identity Theft, here's what you should do:

•  If the crime involved the U.S. Mail, contact your nearest U.S. Postal Inspection Service office and report it.

•  Call the fraud units of the three major credit bureaus and request a "fraud alert" be placed on your credit file. Check your monthly financial statements for accuracy.

•  Order copies of your credit report from the credit bureaus to check whether any fraudulent accounts were opened without your knowledge or consent.

•  Contact your banks and creditors, by phone and in writing, and report the crime. You may be advised to close some or all of your accounts. At the least, change your PIN codes and passwords immediately.

•  Record the names and phone numbers of people with whom you discussed your case and retain all original reports and supporting documents. Keeping accurate and complete records are a big step toward helping you resolve your problem.

•  Contact your financial institutions and request they flag your accounts. Instruct them to contact you immediately if there is unusual activity on your accounts.

•  File your complaint online with the Federal Trade Commission, or call their Identity Theft Hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT. The FTC has counselors to assist identity theft victims with resolving financial and other problems that can result from this crime.

This article was published by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The mission of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is to protect the U.S. Postal Service, its employees and its customers from criminal attack, and protect the nation's mail system from criminal misuse.