B. The purpose of my speech is to inform the audience about identity theft.

C. Identity theft can happen to anyone in this room. Your roommate, friend, total stranger or relative can gain access to your personal information. If you plan on applying for a student loan or purchasing a car or home, you should listen carefully to this speech.

D. I was almost a victim of identity theft. Several years ago someone stole my checkbook. The person who found it started writing checks from my account to purchase a few very expensive items at my expense. I had no idea this was happening until I went to the ATM to withdraw money. I called my bank and found out that my account was $2000.00 overdrawn. Fortunately, I reported

C. Identity theft is a very serious matter. I hope each and every one of you will take the information I have provided today to heart. If I was able to convince you to better protect your personal information, then I have accomplished my goal.

One of the first things you can do is order a copy of your credit report every year from the top three credit bureaus. The three major credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian and Transunion. You can find each of these companies on the Internet or your local telephone directory. Once you receive your credit report, it is imperative you review it for inaccuracies. If you find anything that shouldn't be on the report you should call or write the creditor and inquire about their report. There are times when your creditor will make a mistake, but if you see accounts you are unaware of or outrageous charges you should start closing accounts and informing the proper organizations. Another way to minimize your chance is to properly dispose or destroy old bank statements, applications for credit cards, or any other paperwork that may contain your personal information. Protecting your personal information is the key to keeping your identity from falling in someone else's hands. Now that I have spoken about how identity theft happens and ways to minimize your chances of becoming a victim, I will now talk about steps to take if you do become a victim.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1392
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)