Identity theft involves criminals stealing personal information like Social Security numbers and using it to open accounts or apply for loans. Around 10 million Americans are victims of identity theft each year. People can reduce their risk by checking credit reports annually, guarding their Social Security number, and ignoring suspicious emails. If someone becomes a victim, they should contact credit reporting agencies, close fraudulent accounts, file a police report, and potentially file an identity theft insurance claim for assistance recovering. ERIE insurance offers an identity theft endorsement for $20 per year that provides up to $25,000 to help restore someone's identity if stolen.