It's the season of spending, and swiping...

Credit that is.

And the risk of having your credit, and identity, stolen is higher than ever

How to protect your identity.

Cash may not be as convenient while shopping, but it is a safer choice.

Whenever you swipe a card, you're taking a chance.

"It happens to people all over, from people all over," says New York Assistant Attorney General Michael Dannaher.

The New York Attorney General's office says identity theft is the fastest growing financial crime in the nation.

"Now it's in someone's hands that I don't know. So my information is out there. And I don't know what's going on with it, so hopefully nothing will happen," says Katie Petrick of Endwell.

The fear of identity theft has people paying close attention to their money.

"Checking the on-line accounts to make sure the balances are where I expect them to be. Make sure there's no unauthorized purchases on my on-line accounts," says Joe Darrow of Sayre.

Secure websites have a U-R-L address of h t t p s.

With S standing for secure.

Dannaher says secure sights are like a vaccine against cyber sickness.

"I refer to it as a cyber sneeze when you are giving out information on an unsecured sight you are sneezing your personal information throughout cyber space with the ability of some people to grab that," says Dannaher.

It's not only websites where information is stolen.

Thieves try to trick you with a phone call, claiming to be your bank.

"It's very simple for you to say I'll call you back. Don't call the number back they tell you to call back," says Dannaher.

Instead, you should look up your banks number and report the call.,

Dannaher says banks will never ask for personal information over the phone.

If you think you're the victim of identity theft you should first contact your bank, or credit card company.

The State Attorney General's Office says if you didn't buy anything, you should get most of your money back.

Federal law says identity theft victims are only liable for up to 50 dollars.