By now, most Hoosiers are familiar with identity theft and its potentially devastating effects on its victims' lives. Identity theft is an issue we take seriously in the attorney general's office. While some victims resolve their problems quickly, others have to invest a significant amount of time and money repairing damage to their name and credit record. Victims of identity theft could lose out on job opportunities, or be denied loans for education, housing or cars because of negative information on their credit reports.

At the attorney general's office, we believe the best defense for identity theft is a good offense. That's one of the reasons why we have implemented a new interactive tool at IndianaConsumer.com to help better inform people in an interactive way with an Identity Theft e-book. By visiting the Web site and downloading the e-book, consumers can:

• View a public service announcement.

• Take a quiz to determine their risk for identity theft.

• Receive tips to learn how to minimize the risk of identity theft.

• Learn what the attorney general's office is doing to combat identity theft.

• Learn the steps to take if you have been a victim.

• Hear from the "ID Thief" who talks about ways he can steal an identity.

People can get to the Identity Theft e-book by clicking on one of the rotating consumer topics at IndianaConsumer.com. In addition to information on Identity Theft, consumers can learn about other interesting topics such as tips on purchasing a new car, read the latest headlines, and take an interactive quiz on spam scams.