The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) just released its identity theft predictions for 2009. Here are some of the scams that are expected to increase next year:

• Real estate-based scams: These scams include refinancing current loans, and adding in unforecasted payments or property to increase the cost of the loan.
• Credit card scams: Thieves may advertise the ability to get credit cards despite a poor credit score or the lack of a Social Security number. There will continue to be more scams that offer to consolidate your credit card debt or to renegotiate your interest rates.
• Other scams: Job scams are on the rise. Consumers have also been receiving more “phishing” scam emails due to the merging of financial institutions and stores.
• Professional thieves and targeted attacks: The ITRC anticipates an increase in more sophisticated ways to “mine” information, perhaps by organized crime groups.
• Check Fraud: As it becomes more difficult to get new lines of credit, identity thieves may be drawn more to commit check fraud. These crimes may take the form of stolen checks, using checks thrown into the trash by unknowing consumers or even synthetic checks.