Identity theft is one of the most widespread 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 exposes not only private payment information to thieves, but possibly the cardholder's name, address and Social Security number. A 2003 survey by the Identity Theft Resource Center found that approximately seven million people had been victims of identity theft in the previous 12 months. 73% of respondents indicated that their identity theft involved the unauthorized use of their credit card information, while only 15% of these victims discover the theft of their credit card data through proactive measures 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 can end up with unauthorized debts reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars before they even realize there is a problem. Given new and increasingly advanced developments in security technology each year, consumers can be excused for believing that their private payment information is safe and secure. in the hands of giant corporations and established, successful retailers. This is a dangerous assumption. Identity theft can happen anywhere and at any time. In April 2011, an external breach in the complex security system of Sony Corporation's Playstation Network resulted in 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...... middle of paper ...... it is a disturbing fact that the more advanced and ubiquitous electronic payment technology becomes, the greater the risk of personal data being exposed to fraudulent activities in all businesses. , technological and societal. This is precisely why safety gels are such an important option for consumers. Yet as the law currently stands, consumers must wade through an inconsistent and often confusing set of regulations to freeze their financial and personal information – regulations that vary by state. Federal legislation that preempts state law would make safety freeze tools easier to understand and more readily available to consumers. However, until such federal legislation becomes law, the public must do its best to comply with the diverse and sometimes conflicting requirements imposed by credit reporting agencies as well as states..