The U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s most recent statistics show that nearly 7,000 Ohioans become victims of identity theft each year. This growing crime can be particularly insidious because the victim often isn’t aware that they’ve been had until long after it happens. It can take many months and, often, thousands of dollars to recover one’s good name, while the identity thief has moved on to new victims. Fortunately, there is a new way for Ohioans to protect themselves against this rising tide of financial crime.