Identity theft is one of the most pervasive and rapidly growing criminal activities in America. It is also one of the most devastating crimes for victims. One of the most common forms of identity theft is credit and debit card fraud. Credit card fraud not only reveals private payment information to thieves, but also the cardholder's name, address and Social Security number. A 2003 survey conducted by the Identity Theft Resource Center found that approximately seven million people had been victims of identity theft in the past 12 months. 73% of respondents indicated that identity theft resulted in the unauthorized use of their credit card information, while only 15% of these victims learn of their credit card information being stolen through email. proactive action taken by a company. Unauthorized access to credit information often results in a wide range of fraudulent activity and consumer debt, including new and unauthorized credit card accounts, bank accounts, loans, mortgages and more. Consumers could find themselves with up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in unauthorized debt before they realize there is a problem. With new and increasingly advanced developments in security technology every year, consumers could be forgiven for believing that their private payment information is safe and secure in the hands of giant companies and established, successful retailers. This is a dangerous assumption. Identity theft can happen anywhere, anytime. In April 2011, an external breach of Sony Corporation's intricate Playstation Network security system led to a week-long outage for users. This breach exposed the identity information and credit card data of 77 million consumers. An equally devastating breach of… half the card… it is a worrying fact that the more advanced and pervasive electronic payment technology becomes, the greater the risk that personal data could be exposed to enterprise-wide fraudulent activity. , technological and social. This is precisely why freezing securities is such an important option for consumers. However, as the law currently stands, consumers must navigate an inconsistent and often confusing set of rules to freeze their financial and personal information, rules that vary by state. Federal legislation that preempts state law would make security freeze tools easier to understand and more effective. easily accessible for consumers. However, until such federal legislation becomes law, the public will have to do its best to navigate the different and sometimes conflicting requirements imposed by credit bureaus and states..