ConsumerLoanWire.com

Identity thieves steal billions each year through credit card fraud, though often the consumer is unaware of how he or she has been compromised.

Sometimes card information is obtained and then sold across the globe to a loosely organized international underworld, according to recent stories on credit card fraud.

"They can sit in an apartment in Kiev ... and steal your identity and you're going to be in a world of hurt," said Dan Clements, founder of Card Cops, a company that has been tracking hackers who buy and sell people's identities. "They blatantly ... trade credit cards. They trade social security numbers. They trade debit card pin numbers."

Card Cops has been tracking hackers' activity for a decade. Crooks from all over the world meet in Internet chat rooms, in what almost looks like an underground stock market.

"Credit cards are commodity items," Clements said. "They can go for as little as $2 or $3 for a regular credit card. If you have a platinum card, it may be for $10 or $20. It's big business. They make a lot of money. There are people here that claim to make $20,000 to $30,000 a month selling these resources in these chat rooms."

Card Cops began after many who now work there were victims of identity theft when they worked together at a different Internet company. They used their personal experience to launch a business of protecting consumers and merchants from identity theft.

Taking control of a credit card number is one thing, but what's really devastating is when crooks have all of your financial information. Once they have a full profile, they can open up new accounts entirely under a different name.

Identity protection is largely left up to the consumer. Card Cops recommends inactivating old account numbers, and choosing a new ATM pin number every six months.

Card Cops officials have been interviewed on NBC dateline and for stories in USA Today. To learn more about how to protect your identity visit the Card Cops Web site.