“Protect your good name,” your grandmother probably told you one time or another.
She was probably talking about your reputation. These days, though, there’s a more literal meaning: Keep your name, and your bank accounts, from being stolen.
Some 9 million people a year may find personal information stolen through identity theft, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Not all such thefts lead to financial losses, but as the number shows, the risk is huge.
Just one example: In 2010, authorities in Providence, R.I., arrested a Russian man on suspicion of stealing the identity of an American who lived in Ireland. Federal prosecutors
