Broad Statement - Our identity is what makes us unique. It is the distinguishing character or personality of an individual, and when one is a victim of identity theft, it is this distinguishing character that is stolen: one's name, address, Social Security number, employment history, credit history, and more. It therefore is no wonder that victims of identity theft often feel a deep sense of violation as they struggle to reclaims their good names. , Contrast - A family’s home is a place where memories are made, traditions are born, and children are raised. A home should be a place of joy, of comfort, and most of all, a cocoon of safety in a sometimes frightening world. But what if that home, instead, causes a family to feel fearful, hopeless, and lost? That is exactly what happens when a potential home buyer finds out his or her identity has been stolen and credit destroyed. , Relevance - Identity fraud is the fastest growing crime in the United States. According to the 2005 report “Identity Theft Fraud Report, “In 2004, over nine million Americans, or approximately one person in 24, became victims of identity fraud or identity theft, at a cost to the economy of 52.6 billion dollars.” Because many cases of identity fraud and identity theft may go unreported, the numbers could be even higher. , Anecdote - Nelson Cruz was finally ready to purchase a home. He spent years putting money into a savings account, paid off his credit cards, and diligently paid every bill on time. Confident of his good credit rating, Nelson visited the bank to inquire about a mortgage, but he discovered startling information: he defaulted on a home loan, had $40,000 in credit card debt, and had a car repossessed for lack of payment. Mr. Cruz, like many Americans, is a victim of identity theft. Instead of preparing to move into a new home, Nelson began the long journey to restore his good name and to reclaim his identity., Questions - How would you feel if you knew, at this moment, that some criminal is writing your name, address, and Social Security number on credit card applications and plans to charge thousands of dollars worth of merchandise on those credit cards? More importantly, how do you know that this is not happening? Millions of people have become victims of identity theft, and they often find out only after thousands of dollars have been stolen using their names., Quotations - In Shakespeare's Othello, Iago claims that he "who steals my purse steals trash / . . . But he that filches from me my good name / Robs me of that which not enriches him, / And makes me poor indeed" (3.3.157-161). Today, identity theft is a new way that thieves steal both the "purses" and the good names of innocent victims, and these thieves are enriching themselves at the expense of their victims.,

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