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Should you pay for identity theft protection?

According to a report released by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), identity theft complaints increased by 47% from 2013 to 2015. Needless to say, identity theft is on the rise, and many people are concerned they could become a victim. Like any crime, totally preventing identity theft is practically impossible. However, that hasn't stopped many so-called identity theft protection and prevention companies from selling services that promise to do just that.

<p>Fraud prevention button, concept about cybersecurity and credit card protection. Photo: Thinkstock</p>

According to a report released by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), identity theft complaints increased by 47% from 2013 to 2015. Needless to say, identity theft is on the rise, and many people are concerned they could become a victim. Like any crime, totally preventing identity theft is practically impossible. However, that hasn’t stopped many so-called identity theft protection and prevention companies from selling services that promise to do just that.

As a consumer, it’s important to be cautious when purchasing identity theft services simply out of fear. Sometimes, fear-based marketing tactics can cause consumers to pay or overpay for services they may not need, or worse yet, may not be even be effective.

Before we dive into the details of assessing the value of the ID theft protection service you are considering, let’s do a quick recap on the types of identity theft and common services offered to help with this issue.

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