Though the upcoming release of the movie Identity Theft looks funny, there is nothing funny about real identity theft.

“It will never happen to me.”  This is a common mentality of both teens and adults.

Truth is, identity theft can happen to anyone at any time.  If you’re not careful, your credit card or ID could end up in the wrong hands. Suddenly, you are getting bills for credit card purchases you never made or checks you never wrote. You have been a victim of ID theft.

There are many ways to keep yourself safe from ID theft, such as LifeLock. These services will alert you if a suspicious transaction is made and can even close your bank account until you open it again. Services like these can give you additional protection from ID theft.

Even with ID theft protection services, you may be a victim of ID theft. Imagine that your credit card number was stolen without you realizing it and used to make a purchase. Your service’s computer may not view the transaction as suspicious and may not alert you.

Even without a protection service, it is easy to prevent yourself from being a victim of identity theft. “Keep up with your credit cards and such,” Says Officer Westrope of the Madison Police Dept.

“Don’t leave them in your car. Be careful when making online purchases, and use a secure computer when doing so. Never give out personal information over the phone or internet.”