| Just because you do not use your credit card for | | | | identity thieves can steal from you, at least when |
| online purchases means that you cannot be a | | | | you are outside your house. |
| victim of identity theft. It is something that can | | | | 2. Request that your name be removed from the |
| happen to anyone. Recent statistics show that | | | | marketing or mailing list of any of the three |
| there were 9.3 million Americans who became | | | | major credit reporting bureaus. This will |
| victims of identity fraud in 2004 alone. Of course, | | | | significantly reduce the amount of pre-approved |
| identity thieves uses a various methods to steal | | | | credit applications that you will receive via snail |
| your identifying information like driver's license | | | | mail. These correspondences tend to be thrown |
| numbers, social security card numbers, credit card | | | | out of the trash immediately by the recipients |
| numbers as well as passwords and PIN numbers. | | | | which, in turn, can be obtained by dumpster |
| This information, when acquired by criminals, can | | | | divers. The information contained therein can be |
| be used for their own personal gain like spending | | | | used by identity thieves to steal your identity. |
| your credit limit, taking on huge loans and draining | | | | 3. It would also be wise to have your name and |
| your bank accounts. | | | | address removed from telephone directories. The |
| If you want to protect yourself from being the | | | | information contained herein is enough for identity |
| next victim, it is therefore important that you | | | | thieves to initiate any identity theft actions against |
| know what information do identity thieves need | | | | you. During applications, always check the box |
| and how they go about in acquiring it. Knowing the | | | | stating that you don't want your name and phone |
| dynamics of their crime can significantly protect | | | | number be listed. |
| you from their potential actions. | | | | 4. Use a PO Box if you are a frequent snail mail |
| Then again, you cannot truly prevent yourself | | | | receiver. This would protect your mail from being |
| from identity theft. The most that you can do is | | | | stolen or intercepted. If you don't want to use a |
| reduce the risk of identity fraud and you can do | | | | PO box, install a locked mailbox instead. Of course, |
| so by doing the following tips: | | | | it also goes to say that you need to take a hike |
| 1. Avoid bringing all your credit cards with you | | | | to the post office for any confidential mail like |
| when you go out. Whenever possible, take only | | | | mailing checks or any other correspondences that |
| the credit card that you want to use for that | | | | contain your personal information. |
| day. Also, avoid bringing your social security card, | | | | 5. If you ordered new checks, again, take a hike |
| birth certificate or passport with you during night | | | | to the bank and have them personally picked up |
| outs, casual parties or any other events or affairs | | | | rather than mailed to your home address. They |
| that you don't need it. This will significantly | | | | can be stolen and used by criminals in their pursuit |
| decrease the risk of you being an identity theft | | | | to assume your identity and damage your |
| victim because there are less information that | | | | finances. |