According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as many as 9 million Americans are victims of some form of identity theft every year. Whether conned into a phishing scam, visiting a malicious website, or having your mail stolen from your mailbox, there are hundreds of ways that lowlifes can take advantage of you and grab your personal information.

Your best defenses against ID theft are knowledge, awareness and eternal vigilance against scammers. The AMW Safety Center has plenty of strategies for stopping con artists in their tracks, and with some help, it’s easy to protect yourself against these would-be thieves. Check out some of these resources to help keep your personal information secure.

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Identity Protection Toolkit

As Americans struggle to stay afloat during these tough economic times, it seems everyone is scaling back on their purchases. But sometimes, you come across a deal on a product with an offer that seems too good to refuse. Unfortunately, scammers are out in full force to take advantage of shoppers searching for deals and often making offers that are too good to be true.

Whether pulling the old bait and switch, or offering miracle cure-all products, false advertising is illegal. We have some great advice here at the AMW Safety Center from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to help you recognize these false claims, and what you can do to protect your wallet against them.

The National Center for Victims of Crime reports that as many as 25% of high school age students report to know about dating violence among their peers. This type of abuse can be physical, sexual or emotional, but is almost always long lasting and can impact relationships for the rest of a teens life.

It’s never too early to think about your teen’s self esteem. There are several signs that parents should look out for that could signal that a teen is in an abusive relationship. Recognizing these signs and talking to your teens about their options can be critical to helping them developing and maintain healthy relationships.