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ALBANY, GA --
Identity theft is on the rise, especially in Georgia.

Currently, Georgia ranks second in the nation for identity theft cases. In 2011 alone, there were over 11 million victims who lost a total of $18 billion. Wednesday, the Albany Police Department hosted a seminar open to public on how to protect yourself from becoming a victim.

Those who attended say they shred documents on a regular basis, but were still surprised at some of the facts.

Experts say to limit the information you put out on the web, including social media. They also say to change your passwords constantly and to check your credit on a regular basis.

You can also sign up for fraud alerts through any of the credit bureaus. It's free and lasts for 90 days.

For more information on how to protect your identity, visit http://www.identitytheft.org/protect.htm.