Identity Theft

10 million Americans fell victim to identity theft last year and experts say the culprit could actually be right under you nose.
At 73 years old Jimmy Pruitt never thought he’d still be mowing lawns to cover the bills, but a Roebuck man says his own son stole his identity and left his finances in shambles.
Pruitt says his son took out a credit card under his name at walmart and racked up thousands.
And the Pruitts certainly not alone. A third of all identity theft victims know the culprit and 13 percent of the time it’s family.
Credit counselor Brent Bishop shares one scenerio he’s seen before.
According to the Identity Theft Research Center more than 40 percent of vicitms don’t discover their identity has been stolen until seven months after it occurs.
Credit counselors say the best way to protect yourself is check your credit history at a trusted website like annualcreditreport.com.
Pruitt and his wife Joyce filed charges against their 40 year old son who also stole money from the house.
Pruitt says last week in court a judge sentenced him to probation.
Experts will share other tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft during an I.D. theft prevention workshop.
It is Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 at the National Bank of South Carolina on Henry Street in Spartanburg.
The Federal Trade Commission says some ways to avoid identity theft is to:
Shred financial documents.
Protect your social security number.
Keep all your personal information in a secure place.