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12/5/2011 Santa Barbara Identity Theft on the Rise at Christmas, Study Shows

Bad news for victims of identity theft in Santa Barbara: the trend seems to be increasing—especially at Christmas.

According to new report by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, identity theft rose by 33 percent in the last 5 years. Last year, identity thefts led to roughly $13.3 billion in direct financial losses across households nationwide.

Jerry Lulejian, Santa Barbara County Senior Deputy District Attorney, recommends this tip for protecting yourself against identity theft: never use your debit card online. While banks may not refund money lost due to a stolen debit card, credit cards companies will often protect you from fraudulent purchases.

There is extra safety in shopping centers, too. Amber Lease, PR Marketing Director at Santa Maria Town Center Mall, assures shoppers that extra security guards have been added for the holiday season.

"We beefed up our security now through the end of the year," Lease said. "We about doubled the staffing so you should at all times see at least three security members."

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