Identity theft skyrocketed 81% in 2002, a statistic so shocking that it seemed unreal -- until it happened to my sister. Last weekend, she had her wallet pinched. Within six hours, the thieves, clearly professionals, had charged $5,000 to each of . . .
Identity theft skyrocketed 81% in 2002, a statistic so shocking that it seemed unreal -- until it happened to my sister. Last weekend, she had her wallet pinched. Within six hours, the thieves, clearly professionals, had charged $5,000 to each of her credit cards and wiped out much of her bank account by using her debit card to "purchase" limousine services from a nonexistent company. Worse, the thieves also obtained her Social Security number, which was printed on her health-insurance member card.

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