Kerry, an identity theft victim, reveals how her identity was stolen and how she dealt with it. Wilma, Victim Advisor at the Identity Theft Resource Center, provides advice on what to do if you become a victim.

There are events in life that disrupt the normal flow of things; the dog escapes, someone goes to the hospital, and so forth. I’ve recently reflected on the disruption of identity theft and thought back to my own experience with it .

ProtectMyID was founded with the purpose of protecting its members’ identities and we are more committed than ever to protecting our members from identity theft. Here’s how we help keep your identity safe.

In recent years, the trend to send ecards rather than paper cards has emerged. It’s an economical, eco-friendly alternative, and it’s the procrastinator’s best friend. However, some ecards can contain malware that collects information that is later used to commit identity theft.

Each December, we blog about holiday scams and tips to avoid identity theft while shopping, but we’ve never provided our readers with a list of cool gadgets that work to protect against identity theft.

Parking lots overflow. Shoppers jostle for must-have gifts. Holiday spending may be in full swing, but not everyone is on the lookout for the best deals. Some people are simply looking out for distracted shoppers and the chance to steal a credit card or worse, an entire wallet and someone’s identity.

Viruses lurk everywhere on the Web, possibly even behind the holiday animations and e-cards that make the rounds this time of year. While we here at ProtectMyID don’t want to be scrooges, we do want you to be careful. Because that free holiday ringtone may come with a hidden cost – a virus that steals your personal data and leaves you susceptible to identity theft.

There are plenty of legitimate charities that need your donations this time of the year. And plenty of illegitimate ones that just want to con you. Donate to a bogus charity and you’ll lose out on the donated dollar amount. You might lose even more to identity theft if your personal and payment data accompanied your donation. The Federal Trade Commission names the following tactics as red flags of potential charity fraud:

Money may be a foolproof gift, but mailing a personal check certainly doesn’t bulletproof your identity. So take the proper precautions before you write a check and drop it in the mail this holiday season. Otherwise thieves might cash in on your generosity and your identity.

Signs of the holidays seem to come earlier and earlier. While much of this enthusiasm seems premature, it’s never too early to prepare when it comes to safety. So, as you’re finalizing the details of this winter’s family reunion, beach escape or alpine adventure, take note of what you should do to prepare your home for your absence.