| What was once considered no more than a minor | | | | purchases you never made start to roll in. |
| inconvenience, identity theft is now a prominent | | | | - Always cross-shred any documentation showing |
| issue for individuals and law enforcement agencies | | | | your personal information before throwing it in the |
| alike. Practicing pro-active and commonsense | | | | garbage. Dumpster diving has become an easy |
| routines when conducting financial transactions by | | | | and lucrative method of obtaining personal |
| any means other than cash can go along way in | | | | information and, again, you will not even be aware |
| preventing identity theft. | | | | that you have been victimized until the bills catch |
| Identity theft is an insidious crime that has | | | | up with you. |
| expanded exponentially throughout the globe. Far | | | | - Never leave documents containing sensitive, |
| from being a victimless crime, identity theft can | | | | personal information (like payroll receipts) lying |
| have a serious, detrimental impact on your life | | | | around in plain sight. Although credit card fraud is |
| and can lead to months, and even years of | | | | the most common method of identity theft, |
| frustration and humiliation. | | | | skilled scam artists can capture your identity in a |
| When someone uses your personal identification | | | | variety of seemingly mundane ways. Once these |
| documentation in order impersonate you for any | | | | unscrupulous characters get access to your social |
| reason, this is known as identity theft. Professional | | | | security number, look out - the identity thief now |
| identity thieves are proficient at assuming any | | | | has all the information he needs to merrily rack up |
| given identity and the rapidity with which they can | | | | thousands of dollars of debt in your name. |
| destroy another life is mind boggling, to say the | | | | - Use caution when releasing personal information |
| least. Should you fall victim to this criminal | | | | to third parties. Never give out your banking |
| element, your life can become a living nightmare. | | | | information or social security number over the |
| By being vigilant in all your financial dealings, you | | | | phone or on the Internet. |
| can protect yourself from these identity | | | | - Never reply to any email, no matter how official |
| kidnappers; however, the onus is on you to make | | | | looking, that requests banking or financial |
| sure you are taking all the steps necessary to | | | | information. There are teams of criminals in |
| protect yourself from identity theft. | | | | cyberspace who make their living from |
| Identity thieves are constantly on the lookout for | | | | unsuspecting users who reveal sensitive |
| the seemingly innocent transaction that, in reality, | | | | information obtained through fraudulent emails. |
| offers a goldmine of personal information that can | | | | This is called pshishing and can sometimes be so |
| be used to assume another's identity. Protecting | | | | elaborately constructed that most people think it's |
| yourself from identity theft should be uppermost | | | | the real McCoy. Reputable, legitimate business will |
| in your mind at all times and you should always be | | | | never ask you to disclose sensitive information |
| vigilant in protecting your identity. The following is | | | | either over the phone or in an email. |
| a list of things you should consider in order to | | | | - Never reveal the password of your banking |
| prevent identity theft: | | | | cards to anyone. |
| - Always make sure you retain all copies of your | | | | - Change the password for your banking |
| credit card receipts when presenting your card | | | | information regularly. This includes your Internet |
| for payment. Avoid handing your card over to a | | | | banking, as hackers have been known to access |
| server in a restaurant. Ask that the transaction | | | | this information by "mirroring" keystrokes and |
| be completed in plain sight so you can keep a | | | | reproducing them for their own gain. |
| careful eye on your credit card information. Adept | | | | - Keep personal information to a minimum when |
| identity thieves can procure all kinds of personal | | | | signing up for any online offers. |
| information about you with little more than one | | | | Protecting yourself from identity theft is one of |
| credit card number. | | | | these things that will probably never cross your |
| - Don't let mail accumulate in your mailbox. | | | | mind unless and until it happens to you or |
| Identity thieves are constantly on the lookout for | | | | someone you know. Don't wait to become a |
| mailboxes that may contain pre-approved credit | | | | victim. By practicing some commonsense |
| card offerings; these offer easy pickings to a | | | | safeguards and remaining vigilant at all times, you |
| skilled thief as the application can be completed | | | | will be able to protect yourself from the |
| (with a change of address), mailed in to the credit | | | | ever-growing contingent of identity thieves who |
| card company, and voila, instant access to your | | | | thrive on taking advantage of others. |
| credit. You will be oblivious until the bills for | | | | |