| By now everybody has heard of some horror | | | | report. Get your free report every four |
| story about identity theft from TV shows or | | | | months from each bureau. If you are using a |
| magazine articles. In the popular culture, | | | | PDA, password protect it to prevent others |
| references of identity theft are found in the | | | | from accessing it. |
| novels and movies, notably Frederick | | | | |
| Forsyth's novel, "The day of the Jackal" and | | | | Phishing is a popular method to steal |
| the 1995 movie "The Net." In real life, the | | | | sensitive information for identity theft |
| Identity Theft Resource Center ( reports 8.9 | | | | purposes. Don't be a phishing victim. Avoid |
| millions identity theft victims in 2006. | | | | clicking on any link that comes to your way |
| | | | through e-mails or IM. The e-mail will |
| So, what is an identity theft? An identity | | | | disguise itself coming from your financial |
| theft occurs when somebody steals vital | | | | institutions (your bank or PayPal accounts) |
| pieces of personal information, e.g. your | | | | and will urge you to click a link to verify |
| social security, credit card numbers, etc. | | | | your accounts or resort to such other tricks. |
| and uses that information for financial gains | | | | Sometimes, it can be outright threatening. If |
| by taking your identity. The most common form | | | | you click the link you will end up in the |
| of identity theft involves credit card and | | | | thief's website. And if you enter your user |
| mortgage frauds. But it can also be used for | | | | name and password, the thief will have enough |
| vicious crimes like drug dealings, terrorism, | | | | information to log into your actual account. |
| etc. | | | | |
| | | | Open online accounts for all your credit |
| You may be surprised to know that many minor | | | | cards and financial accounts. Online accounts |
| identity thefts are committed by someone you | | | | are not only convenient for faster bill |
| know. So, don't make it an easy job for a | | | | paying, paperless transactions, etc.; they |
| person to steal your personal information | | | | also help monitor your accounts frequently, |
| from your wallet, checkbook, etc. Avoid | | | | instead of waiting for the monthly bill or |
| leaving things containing your personal | | | | statement to arrive. Monitor your accounts |
| information lying around for others to have | | | | online every week and if you see any |
| an easy access to that information. | | | | suspicious charges, checks, etc., call you |
| | | | banks immediately. Also setup e-mail based |
| Shred, shred, shred. Buy a cheap paper | | | | account alerts, if available, to alert you |
| shredder from an office supply store and | | | | when charges are made to your accounts. |
| shred all your paid bills, used check books, | | | | |
| etc. before tossing those into the trash. Put | | | | If possible, avoid putting your outgoing |
| aside 30 minutes every Saturday morning for | | | | mails containing bills and checks in your |
| shredding anything that contained your | | | | mailboxes for easy access by a thief. Drop |
| personal information and you intend to trash. | | | | them in mailboxes located in the post office |
| Make it a habit. | | | | or street corners. Better yet, setup online |
| | | | bill payment with your bank and avoid the |
| Never give out your personal information like | | | | snail mail for bill paying. |
| your social security number; birth date etc. | | | | |
| over the phone when the call you received is | | | | You also need to keep your computer safe. |
| unsolicited. Your financial institutions have | | | | Thieves can get into computers through |
| those information and they will not ask you | | | | spyware and unsecured wireless or network |
| for that. Sometimes, for verification | | | | connections. Use anti-spyware programs and |
| purposes, they make ask you the last four | | | | turn on your Windows default personal |
| digits of your social security number. | | | | firewall program. To prevent viruses |
| | | | infecting your computer, use an anti-virus |
| Don't pay to get anybody to get a copy of | | | | program. Setup accounts for each user of your |
| your credit report. Because of a | | | | computer and ask them to use strong passwords |
| congressional mandate, all three-credit | | | | that include a combination of letters and |
| report bureaus will give you a copy of your | | | | numbers. |
| credit report for free every year. Go to to | | | | |
| obtain your free credit report every year | | | | Another way to prevent anybody, including |
| from TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. While | | | | you, from opening any credit in your name is |
| obtaining your free credit report, these | | | | to freeze your credit. This option is not |
| bureaus will push some paid services. Just | | | | available in all states. If it is available |
| ignore those. | | | | in your state and you opt for this option, |
| | | | you need to lift the block before you allow |
| Don't get your free credit reports from the | | | | anybody, e.g. an employer for a new job, |
| three bureaus all at the same time. Then you | | | | creditor for a car loan, etc., to access your |
| have to wait one year before you can get your | | | | credit information. Though it is almost like |
| reports again for free. In the mean time, | | | | a foolproof system to prevent identity theft, |
| some unwanted stuff may show up in your | | | | it is the also the most inconvenient method. |