According the U.S. Department of Justice, over 15 million people a year are victims of identity theft in the U.S. The following links offer ways to protect yourself from this crime, and what to do if you discover that you have been a victim of identity theft.
Prevention: take the Identity Theft Quiz for Consumers (U.S. DoJ) for tips on simple ways to reduce the risk of being a victim of identity theft.
The People’s Law Library of Maryland also has tips on Keeping Your Personal Information Private as well as a general information page about Identity Theft.
Recovery: the Federal Trade Commission has an easy-to-use checklist for what to do right away, and then what to do next, if you have been a victim of identity theft.