Loss of unsecured laptop computers, not using encryption on sensitive information, disgruntled employees giving out, or even selling, company information are all major risks.

Follow this link to read more; http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/145164/identity_theft_goes_corporate.html

If you sent a file to the recycle bin or used the delete button on your keyboard. Most people assume that this action will delete hard drive files, chances are that your file has just been changed so it is not viewable and can be recovered very easily.

Why this is an important issue?

Identity Theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in our society. This group of crimes often starts with someone using personal information they have found on an unprotected computer.

When a file is deleted via the keyboard or the recycle bin all that really happens in the attribute that call for the file is changed so the file is not called. The entire file remains on your hard drive until it is overwritten by other data. Hard drives today hold huge amounts of data; it could literally be years before a particular file is overwritten. Until that file, which could contain sensitive or confidential material is overwritten, it can be found and resurrected quite easily, and doing so does not require a lot of technical knowledge.

Anyone who accesses your computer could access those deleted files, finding such things as passwords, credit card numbers, photos, records of websites visited and any other data you thought was deleted. Armed with this information they could compromise your identity quite easily, and you may not find out until it has cost you thousands. Recovering your identity and correcting the damage can take years.

A recent study of just over 100 discarded hard drives, some of which had been reformatted, found more than 5000 credit card numbers. Insuring that you delete hard drive files securely is a big part of protecting yourself from Identity Theft.

What can we do to protect against someone finding our deleted data?

There are programs available that have been dubbed shredder or evidence eraser programs. They use special algorithms to find all instances or mentions of the files you want deleted, remove them and then overwrite the deleted hard drive files with random data. Many of these programs are used by government agencies to insure that data is really deleted.

You can defend against Identity Theft; however it does take vigilance and the discipline to protect your personal data. You need to be on guard against all of the email scams, phone scans, and you need be sure that when you delete hard drive files, they stay deleted.

Your defense against Identity Theft arsenal must include strong passwords, mechanical and software firewalls, a spyware, virus, adware, email scanner, suite that is updated regularly. Make and keep frequent automatic backups of crucial files, and use of a shredder or erasing program.

You may also subscribe to one of the many identity theft notification services that are available, however keep in mind that they are sometimes only called into action after someone finds and tries to use your personal information.

Your personal computer is often a starting point for the crime of Identity Theft, this is where the bad guys look for bits of your personal information, passwords or even credit card numbers. They often look through your deleted files, thats right the files that you though were no longer there could still be accessible. The good news is that there are software programs available that will permanently erase deleted files, One of these programs should be part of every computer users tool kit.

• When you send a file to the recycle bin, use the delete button to delete a file a photo or anything else. All that really happens is that the attribute that calls that file is changed so that it does not load; the file itself is still intact and accessible on your hard drive. If the attribute is for some reason changed back to again instructing the file to load, it will. This is a simple explanation of what happens when you use the restore command.
• Operating system software keeps lists of various files in a variety of places on your computer, while the actual file is stored on your hard drive, your backup hard drive, or even on removable media. Until all of those copies of the original file have been scrubbed and actually overwritten by other text they can be resurrected by simple, readily available data recovery software.
• Many files that you would like to delete are sensitive in nature, you want them to be for your eyes only. Records of websites you have visited are retained in various places on your computer. Pass word files, credit card numbers, records of your online transactions. These are all things that when you finish with them, you do not want other people to see.
• This should send a chill up your spine. A recent study of 129 old hard drives (many of them formatted) revealed more than 5,000 credit card numbers, medical correspondences, love letters, pornography, and banking information. These old hard drives could have been recovered from discarded computers.
• Why should you be concerned? Identity Theft is the fastest growing crime in our society. Many times the information needed to start an Identity Theft crime is gathered from an unprotected computer.

How does this information get found?

Anyone who has access to your computer; friend, spouse, boss, co-worker can find deleted information on your computer. They do not have to be a tech wizard.

Hackers constantly cruise the Internet looking for computers that they can gain access too. And with the proliferation of wireless hotspots there are thousands of vulnerable computers online 24/7. When they find one they will use software that will decode passwords, find user names, and look for any bits of information they want to use. The victim, could be you, may never know that their information has been compromised, until they start getting declined for credit or loans, or until they get a credit card bill with charges they did not make. Sometimes the thieves will even submit an address change to your credit card issuer; you will not even get a bill until it is too late.

How do you protect your computer and permanently erase deleted files?

Here are 5 defenses every security conscience computer user needs to employ.

• An updated virus suite, and this does not mean the free version included in your operating system. You need a commercial package that will update your computer automatically to new threats, scan your email, and include protection from spyware and adware.
• You need to have the absolute discipline to never open an email message that is not from a trusted source, or that you do not recognize the sender.
• You need to perform regular backups, some of the current security/virus suites also offer automatic scheduling of backups.
• You should also be using software dubbed shredder programs that permanently erase deleted files. These programs will ferret out all mentions of the files and information you want to delete, and scrub them from your system, and even overwrite deleted hard drive file with random information.
• And finally you need to stay abreast of developing threats to computer security, new ones are hatched daily. Occasionally read a computer magazine or at least search for articles that discuss computer security.

Your own personal computer is ground zero in the battle to steal your identity. Hackers cruise the internet looking for computers they can get into, they have the ability to find the holes in firewalls, they use special programs to discover passwords.

Every time you use your computer, all activity including all of your email, all Internet activity, anything you may have ordered online, your passwords, your credit card numbers are being recorded whether you realize it or not. If you do not employ a program that will permanently erase computer files, you are at risk.

Hackers are not the only group you should be concerned with. Others who have access to your computer, including friends, your boss, your spouse, your co-workers, can take a look at your history and view whatever you have been doing on your computer.

And far worse than that, if a hacker does gain access to your computer, they can pick and choose which information they want, and you will not know they have been there until you start getting turned down for credit, or worse start getting bills for stuff you did not order.

Data recovery programs, which are readily available online, are all that are needed to track your every move. Someone trying to see your information does not even need to know much about technology.

Information about all of the websites that you have ever visited is stored on your computer. Simply deleting a file or sending it to the recycle bin, or clearing your Internet history, temp files or cookies is not enough. All of those files can be found by data recovery software. Even re-formatting your hard drive will not completely do the trick.

Every image that you have ever viewed, sent or received over the Internet is stored on your hard drive. This includes personal pictures as well as confidential business charts, or forms. All of this information should be your business only.

The web sites you have visited your chat conversations, your usernames and passwords, the pictures you just browsed, the media files you just played, even the documents that you just read. These can all be recovered. The normal deletion and erasing tools provided with your standard software just do not permanently erase computer files.

People have been fired, divorced and even sent to jail because of the things other people have found on their computer hard drives. Forensic computer specialists have the tools and skills to find almost anything that was ever on your computer. 

There’s no reason for anyone to risk these things happening to them. Adequate vigilance of the personal information on your computer requires the use of spyware, virus software, firewall software as well as a good evidence erasing program; these should all be part of every computer users tool kit. 

Among the advantages of using this type of program to find and permanently erase files are that it will restore wasted hard drive, improve your computers speed and have much more secure computer. 

These special erasing programs use special algorithms to find and permanently erase all evidence of computer files, photos, movies, chat conversations, web sites visited, anything that you may want safely and completely removed from your computer. Look for a program that has been approved for use by the US Defense Department, if their program is good enough for them, it will more than do the job for you.

You have completed and filed your tax return in a timely manner. Then your tax preparer calls with the news that the Internal Revenue Service has rejected your return because someone has already filed a return using your name and Social Security Number. Or maybe the Internal Revenue Service has contacted you directly asking you about unreported income, and you haven’t even filed your return yet.

You wonder how is this possible?

This form of ID theft occurs when a scam artist files a phony tax return–in your name, with your Social Security number and other personal information–in an attempt to collect a fraudulent refund.

These con artists create phony businesses, phony kids, make up phony work hours and other deductions and get a very nice refund, and sometimes from multiple identity theft victims.

If you are one of those victims, it can take months of trying to work with the Internal Revenue Service bureaucracy to get to the bottom of, and your tax return will be held hostage until it is cleared up

How does this form of Identity Theft happen?

Many times it starts with an email “phishing” scam. In this kind of scam you receive an email that appears to be from a legitimate financial institution, or government agency. Consumers are asked to supply their Social Security number, and other personal information which the con artist will use to generate the W-2 and a phony tax return.

In other cases, phony returns have been filed using children’s Social Security numbers.

Growing numbers of victims are complaining to the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Trade Commission about this and similar scams.

Phony tax return emails rank third in the Internal Revenue Service’s list of the “Dirty Dozen” tax frauds this year.

Tax scams always have been a problem but have become more sophisticated with the Internet.

According to the Federal Trade Commission complaints about tax return identity theft have risen more than 150%. Complaints to the Internal Revenue Service Taxpayer Advocate are up over 640% in three years.

Victims discover the problem after getting a startling notice from the Internal Revenue Service asking about unreported income. But here are a few common-sense tips that may reduce your chances:

• Beware of phony emails that appear to be from the Internal Revenue Service, or other financial institution. You might be asked to click on a link in the email to get a special claim form or other document, which asks you for personal information. All legitimate financial institutions will not send email asking you to provide information directly, rather they will ask you to contact then by phone or a secure link that you already have. The Internal Revenue Service says it “does not send unsolicited email about tax account matters” to individuals, businesses, tax-exempt groups or others.
• Never give a business or service provider your Social Security number unless you have determined that it is absolutely necessary, and they have assured you that they have taken precautions to keep it secure.
• Check with your employer to see what steps they employ to restrict access to your Social security number and other private personal information.
• Your tax preparer will have access to all of your personal financial information. Be sure to check them out. Make sure they use updated anti-spyware and anti-virus software on the computers they use for tax work.
• If you file your own returns electronically, make sure to use only services linked directly to www.irs.gov. For state returns be sure you use links directly from your state’s official home page.
• If you get a written notice from the Internal Revenue Service, respond as soon as you can to the name and number included in the notice.

It may not be really possible to completely protect yourself from the possibility of Identity Theft; however there are steps you can take to lessen the probability. Identity thieves are very clever, the scams they use are many, and mimic current events, charities, and many legitimate organizations. They are expert at posing as people you have been conditioned to trust such as bank officers, credit company reps, police agencies, clergy, Internet service providers (ISPs), or even government agencies to get people to reveal their Social Security number, mother’s maiden name, account numbers, and other identifying information.

1. The first step is to be aware of the need to take charge of protecting yourself from Identity Theft. If you cannot for some reason perform these simple steps, you can and should contract with one of the services that will do it for you. (Google – Identity Theft Services). 
2. Buy and use a quality cross cut document shredder. You should form the habit of shredding any document, old credit cards or computer media that you throw in the trash, this should also include junk mail.
3. Form the habit of never opening any email that you are not 100% sure of who the sender was. If you receive any email that purports to be from any organization asking for any personal information, you should contact that organization via phone, letter or an email address that you know goes to that organization. Never click the links provided in the email. If you initiate contact with an organization, enter the URL by typing it into your browser or using your favorites or bookmarks list, do not copy and paste a URL that was sent to you via email. Many “phishing” email messages are circulating that look very real, but they are not, no reputable organization will contact you via email asking for personal information.
4. Contact each of the three (3) credit reporting companies and ask that fraud alerts be placed on your credit information. This requires that no information be given out without your express approval each time it is requested. Frauds alerts are a no cost service; however they are only valid for 90 days and must be requested every 90 days.
5. Be sure that your home phone numbers are listed on national and state no call lists, these also must be renewed regularly.
6.  You can, and should, opt of receiving prescreened offers of credit in the mail; thieves do steal mail from residential mailboxes. They can validate those pre approved cards and have you deep in debt very quickly. Call: 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688). Note: You will be asked to provide your Social Security number which the consumer reporting companies need to match you with your file.
7. You should replace your standard residential mailbox with a quality locking mail box; there are several available that are approved by USPS. Keep in mind that locks are really intended to keep honest people honest, if they really want in they still can pry them open, however the usual junkie who will steal mail won’t take the time and will just move on to the next non-locking mail box. Outgoing mail should be deposited in a USPS post box, or other secure mail drop instead of being placed in your mail box for pick up.
8. Do not respond to any telephone solicitations, especially those that are asking for any personal information. A good habit to get into is never give any personal information over the phone unless you initiated the contact. If anyone ever asks you for money upfront to get a prize or award of any kind, contact your local law enforcement agency.
9. Remove your Social Security Card from your wallet or purse. You should also limit the credit cards you carry. Record all of your credit card numbers and the phone numbers and keep them in a secure place. The number to report a stolen or lost card is sometimes printed on the back of your credit card.
10. If you ever suspect that anyone has obtained any of your personal information, or has ever used your personal information, without your express approval. Contact a law enforcement agency. Many of the legal protections you are entitled to will not take effect without an Identity Theft report filed with a law enforcement agency.

Scams are an old story that’s written anew every day. Some scams have been around for at least a century, such as the Spanish prisoner scam, which has evolved into the Nigerian letter scam of today. Many newer scams utilize the latest in technological advancements to make it ever easier to part fools from their money. And not just fools-careful, intelligent people also fall prey to the many scams that pervade our everyday life. Scam artists, the rare criminals justifiably referred to as “artists,” often have a knowledge of psychology that would make Sigmund Freud proud. These criminals know just which buttons to push to appeal to our fears, friendships, charitable instincts, compassion, optimism, greed, and desire for quick-and-easy solutions to life’s problems.

Almost everything we do can be adapted to a scam. Fertile ground for scammers includes phony lotteries, charities, telephone services, healthcare (particularly weight-loss programs), travel services, government programs, scholarships, employment opportunities, dating services, and of course investments. And then there’s the mother lode of today’s scams: identity theft. Identity theft has become a worldwide epidemic of varying scams that carry the potential to empty your bank accounts, ruin your credit, or even send you to jail for a crime someone committed using your name. Regardless of how careful you think you are, you can become a victim of identity theft when your personal information is accessed from sources that may legitimately have this information, but fail to protect the security of this critical information. Steven Spielberg, Martha Stewart, Oprah Winfrey, Ross Perot, and even Warren Buffet have all been targeted in this fashion.

Scams Are Always in Season

During the holidays, when people are in a charitable mood, there’s never a shortage of legitimate-looking phony charities that are more than eager to take your money. You owe it to yourself to take the steps necessary to confirm that any charity you’re considering not only is legitimate. Additionally, you should learn just how much of your contribution is actually used for charitable purposes and how much goes to administrative purposes. (The proportional percentages in even some legitimate charities may astound you.)

During tax season, it’s not just the IRS that’s seeking your money, but also scammers. Phony notices and fraudulent tax schemes not only can cause you to lose money, but even subject you to possible criminal sanctions.

Much has been written about the problems in the sub-prime mortgage market and an increasing rate of mortgage foreclosures. But where others see problems, scammers see opportunity. Whatever the problem-health issues, relationships, financial difficulties-a scammer is there with an offer to “help” that ultimately just makes things worse. In one particular foreclosure scam, con artists tell homeowners in jeopardy that they can avoid foreclosure by transferring an interest in their home to a third party. The third-party con artist walks away with the money, and the foreclosure is unaffected. Scammers prey on us when we’re at our weakest and most vulnerable.

Scammers Do Their Homework

Scammers are adept at telling us what we want to hear. For instance, the scammer may say that his program is a legitimate business proposition in which you actually are sold some inexpensive item as part of the program. This factor, he says, is what differentiates his program from an illegal chain letter. Some purveyors of these particular scams even indicate in their written materials that the U.S. Postal Service approves their particular program. The truth is that the U.S. Postal Service never endorses or approves any particular business program.

Perhaps you respond to an advertisement to be a personal shopper or to do market research. You even receive a “certified check” to pay you for your efforts. Certainly, that check must be legitimate! However, the check is written for more than the amount you’re owed, so you’re required to send your own check back to the company to “refund the difference.” The only problem is that the certified check that the scammer sends you is phony. Unfortunately, the check that you send is not.

Everyone loves to be a winner, and scammers know that fact as well as anyone. Lottery scams come in many variations. Some require you to send “processing fees” while you wait for the prize check that never comes. Other phony lotteries require you to pay to the company sponsoring the lottery the income taxes that you will owe on your prize. The problem is that legitimate lotteries never ask you for tax money. Either you pay the income taxes due on your winnings directly to the IRS, or the taxes are deducted from the prize before you receive it, in which case you receive a Form 1099 from the sponsor of the lottery informing you of the amount already deducted from your prize for taxes.

Whatever involvement you have with the federal government, from Social Security to Medicare to veterans benefits to the IRS, it’s just more fodder for scammers. They take advantage of the confusion many people suffer with the rules of these programs, and twist those rules to lure you into sending money to scammers posing as government representatives.

Scammers May Be Closer Than You Think

Scams can be high-tech, low-tech, even no-tech. They can be accomplished through sophisticated computer programs or merely by going through your trash. Scams are committed by people involved in organized crime located continents away from you, or your neighbor down the street. In fact, many fraud victims are scammed by members of their own families.

Surprisingly, wealthy and financially-literate people are actually more likely than average folks to be suckered by an investment scam. A little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing. A scam artist can take a sophisticated person’s interest in obtaining a high-return investment, along with her elementary knowledge of bonds, and concoct what appears to be a believable story about “secret prime bank investments” that can bring great profits in a short time. The only problem is that these prime bank investments don’t exist and never have existed-regardless of how legitimate they may sound.

Perhaps you’re skeptical about an investment opportunity that sounds almost too good to be true. Your fears may be allayed when you’re told that many people from your own social circle, or even your church or synagogue, have invested with the person providing this investment opportunity-and all of them have received the promised substantial profits. This person even looks like you. He may have the same racial, ethnic, or religious background. He wouldn’t cheat you. He hasn’t cheated your friends and family. What could be better? Those are probably the same thoughts that went through the minds of millions of victims of a common scam named after one of its earliest proponents, Charles Ponzi. Ponzi paid off early “investors” with the money given to him by later “investors,” using this as seed money to lure more people into his trap.

Scams can even take advantage of your concern about being scammed. You receive email that appears to be from your bank, credit card company, or online auction service, indicating that fraudulent activity has been detected on your account and that you must respond to the company immediately or your account will be closed. Unfortunately, the hyperlink in the email notice takes you to a phony site that uses information that you provide to make you a victim of identity theft. Perhaps you’re too smart to provide that personal information when directed to the phony site. Even so, it may be too late. Merely by clicking the link provided in the email notice, you may have unwittingly invited into your computer a Trojan Horse malicious software program that secretly gathers all of the personal information on your computer and sends it back to the identity thief.

Fortunately, there are clues in this type of scam. For instance, if you receive an email from PayPal that addresses you with a salutation of “Dear PayPal User” or “Dear PayPal Member,” you can be sure that it’s not genuine email from PayPal. PayPal will always address you specifically by your first and last name.

Scams Will Always Be Around

The key to avoiding scams is knowledge. You need to learn how to recognize the telltale signs of a scam. You need to learn to recognize the patterns of a scam. You need to learn to think like a scammer.

Steve Weisman hosts the nationally syndicated radio show A Touch of Grey, heard on more than 50 radio stations throughout the country. He has been an award-winning talk show host and commentator for more than 20 years. A member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Weisman is a practicing attorney. He specializes in estate planning, probate, and elder law. He has taught at the University of Massachusetts, Curry College, and Boston University, and is currently an adjunct faculty member at Bentley College. He holds a B.A. degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a J.D. degree from Boston College Law School, and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.

Weisman is a legal editor and columnist for Talkers Magazine and writes on legal matters for publications from The Boston Globe to Playboy Magazine. He has earned a Certificate of Merit from the American Bar Association for excellence in legal journalism. His books include A Guide to Elder Planning, 50 Ways to Protect Your Identity and Your Credit, and The Truth About Avoiding Scams

www.steveweisman.com

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Identity Theft occurs when someone wrongfully uses your personal identification to obtain credit, loans, services, even rentals and mortgages in your name. They may even commit crimes while impersonating you! It is never fun and something that you shouldn’t wish upon anyone.

Identity Theft is a frightening and overwhelming experience if it happens to you. You may not know it is happening for months or years! Here are some things that you should do to protect your privacy. These things will help to reduce the risk of Identity Theft and the trouble and time you will go through if your identity is stolen.

Identity Theft Protection and Prevention

1. Buy a cross-cut type shredder (you can purchase cross-cut type shredder at Wal Mart for about $20.00.) You should shred all your important papers and especially pre-approved credit applications received in your name and other financial information that provides access to your private information. Don’t forget to shred your credit card receipts as soon as they clear the bank.

2. Be careful of “Dumpster Diving.” Although, not as common today, make sure that you do not throw anything away that someone could use to become you. Anything with your identifiers must be shredded (cross-cut) before throwing away.

3. Do not put checks in the mail from your home mailbox. Drop them off at a U.S. Mailbox or the U.S. Post Office. Mail theft is common. It’s easy to change the name of the recipient on the check with an acid wash.

4. When you order new credit cards in the mail, or your previous ones have expired, watch the calendar to make sure that you get the card within the appropriate time. If it is not received by a certain date, call the credit card granter immediately and find out if the card was sent. Find out if a change of address was filed if you don’t receive the card or a billing statement.

5. Put passwords on all your accounts and do not use your mother’s maiden name. Make up a fictitious word that you and your family will remember.

6. Get a post office box or a locked mailbox, if you possibly can. It is far too easy for someone to go through your mail.

7. Empty your wallet of all extra credit cards and social security numbers, etc. Do not carry any identifiers you do not need. Don’t carry your birth certificate, social security card, or passport, unless necessary. You should keep them locked up in a safe until you need them.

8. Memorize social security numbers and passwords.

9. When a person calls you at home or at work, and you do not know this person, never give out any of your personal information. If they tell you they are a credit granter of yours call them back at the number that you know is the true number, and ask for that party to discuss personal information. Provide only information that you believe is absolutely necessary.

10. Do not put your telephone number on your checks.

11. Do not put your credit card account number on the Internet (unless it is encrypted on a secured site.) Don’t put account numbers on the outside of envelopes, or on your checks.

12. When you are asked to identify yourself at schools, employers, or any other kind of institutional identification, ask to have an alternative to your social security number. Unfortunately, your health insurance carrier often uses your social security number as your identification number. Try to change that if you can.

13. Monitor all your bank statements from every credit card every month. Check to see if there is anything that you do not recognize and call the credit granter to verify that it is truly yours.

14. Order your credit report at least four times a year and review it carefully. If you see anything that appears fraudulent, immediately put a fraud alert on your reports.

15. Immediately correct all mistakes on your credit reports in writing. Send those letters Return Receipt Requested, and identify the problems item by item with a copy of the credit report back to the credit reporting agency. You should hear from them within 30 days.

If all of these things seem too hard or too time consuming, I have found a much simpler solution. Identity Protection providers will provide you with amazing identity theft protection programs. For a meager $10 a month, they lock your credit so no one can get access to it without proper authorization. A creditor will call you on the phone number you have provided whenever there is a request to grant credit.

I have found that services like this saves me time, worry, stress, and keeps me safe! Identity theft protection should not be taken lightly. Work hard to protect what you have built and cherish!

Greg has experience with identity theft and how to protect yourself from the risk we bear every day. For Identity Theft Protection solutions and information, visit http://www.IdentityProtectionNow.com

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Identity theft is when someone obtains, and illegally uses, your identification information, such as name, address, date of birth, social security number or mother’s maiden name.How does this crime happen?

There are many ways for an identity thief to get your personal information, some of them are;

• You could lose your wallet or purse, they will have  access to whatever information you carry with you, credit cards, social security number, drivers license, etc.
• Someone where you use a credit card can copy your card information.
• Someone going though your trash can obtain personal information from personal papers you may have discarded.
  Someone calling on the phone, pretending to be a trusted institution, could ask for information to update their files.
• Hackers could get information on your computer or from the Internet. 
• Email phishing scams are becoming endemic, fake websites look very much like real sites, they are asking you for information they do not need. 
• Almost everyday we hear reports of someone losing a computer or disk that has personal information on it.
  You could be mugged, or your home or office can be broken into.
• And there are countless other ways for thieves to obtain your personal information.

An imposter, with your personal information, can open new credit card accounts, drain your bank accounts, purchase automobiles, apply for loans, open utility services and on and on.

While it may be next to impossible to guard against all ways someone could access your personal information, there are steps you can take, including;

• Limit the amount of personal information you carry with you. 
• Be careful of what information you give out about yourself, and who you are giving it to. Never give personal information over the phone unless you initiated the call.
• Your social security number is quite possibly the most valuable information to an identity thief, you should take great care to safeguard it.
• Be very careful filling out forms, or ordering products on the Internet. Be sure you are on a legitimate site, that your initiated contact with, and that whatever information they are asking for is really necessary.
• Never respond to, do not even open email, from a source you do not recognize.
• Never give identifying information to an emailed request, legitimate places you deal with may ask you to contact them using the contact information you already have.
• Many retailers are making use of data terminals that allow you to slide your credit card without handing it to a clerk. use them whenever you can.
• Buy and use a paper shredder for your trash, be sure you shred anything that contain any personal information, papers, cards, computer disks, cd’s etc.
• When you hear that an institution you have dealt with has lost control of personal information, contact them immediately for information on what steps they are taking to find out exactly what information may have been disclosed, and what they are doing to guard against it being used illegally. Some of these institutions may be forced to offer you insurance or pay whatever expenses you incur to protect yourself.

No matter how cautious you are, you cannot guarantee that a criminal will not obtain your information. If you suspect that you have become a victim of identity theft contact the authorities, and all of your financial institutions immediately.