OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Identity theft has grown to be the number one crime in America.

Many identity thieves resort to getting un-opened credit card applications from mailboxes and filling them out, turning them in, and then making your credit go down the drain.

We spoke to an Identity Theft Risk Management Expert, Tami Nealy of LifeLock, about how you can protect yourself from identity theft.

She told KTVO that anyone is able to

Opt- out of credit card offers by simply calling this toll-free number, 1-888-567-8688 and answering a few questions.

"What happens there is they will again, request your personal information, but you will be taken off the list where you are being marketed to from organizations you don’t do business with,” Nealy said.

If you would like more information on protecting yourself from identity theft, you can visit the LifeLock website at www.LifeLock.com