5 Surefire Ways To Get Your Identity Stolen Online

If you are a frequent internet user, chances are good that you may be exposing your identity to many of the bad guys out there. Twenty percent of all people will become a victim of identity theft, and this number is growing. Although not all these victims are due to online activity, you can rest assured that your identity will remain safe as long as you don't make the following online mistakes.

Mistake #1 - Give out personal information to people you don't know.

This does not really need much explanation but the truth is, many people are very trusting and some people have the "it won't happen to me" attitude about identity theft. Most of these people fall in the above mentioned twenty percent. When online, TRUST NO-ONE! This may sound rather harsh, but it could save you a whole lot of trouble.

Mistake #2- Make online purchases on insecure websites.

This is one that many people who are new to purchasing online may not know about. When making purchases online and you are asked to enter your credit card information, look at the address bar of the webpage. It should start with "https" not "http". The letter "S" indicates a secure webpage. Many times there will also be an icon of a closed padlock as well.

Mistake #3- Respond to an email from your bank or financial institution by clicking the link in the email and entering your information.

Many high-tech cyber criminals develop phishing sites, which are websites made to look like that of a popular financial institution. They then send spam emails out making them look like they were sent from the financial institution. When you click the link in the email and enter your information, you just gave the bad guys access to your account. Banks typically will not ask for information by email. If you receive a similar email from your bank or financial institution, call them by phone or make sure you type the web address directly into your web browser instead of clicking on a link to get there.

Mistake #4- Select short easy to remember passwords or use the same password for every site.

But I can't remember a bunch of long passwords. We all use the same excuse. I am guilty myself. If a password is easy for you to remember then chances are it's also easy for a cyber-thief to crack. Make sure you select passwords with a combination of numbers, letters and symbols at least 8 -10 characters in length. Write down the usernames and passwords for each website on a piece of paper (do not save it on your computer). Store the piece of paper in a secure, hidden yet accessible place where you will not forget it.

Mistake #5- Let your computer protection software become outdated, or worse yet, don't have any at all.

Surfing the web without computer protection software is like swimming through shark infested water with raw meat attached to your body. Sooner or later you are going to get bit. By computer protection software, I am talking about antivirus, anti-spyware software and a firewall. Nowadays you absolutely must have all three. There is plenty of good free software out there that will do just fine but most of them will not update automatically. I recommend purchasing and maintaining an internet security system that includes all three of these programs. It is generally well worth the investment.

Now you know the five most common mistakes made by victims of online identity theft. To ensure that you do not become a victim yourself, be very careful about what information you release, only make purchases from secure websites and use long difficult passwords. Also, be very suspicious about strange emails and make sure to keep your computer protection software updated. Follow the above advice and you will significantly lower your chances of becoming part of the twenty percent.

Identity Theft Laws - Aiming To Punish The Executor Of The Crime

Identity theft, in which an individual assumes another person's identity to access resources and other benefits in that person's name, is a costly and devastating form of fraud, where the victim suffers the adverse consequences of a crime that they did not commit. ID theft laws have been passed to try to control the resources and the criminal who commits this type of crime.

In true ID theft cases victims do not realize their identity has been stolen until well after six months, or even years, after the crime has been committed. ID thefts occur mainly for obtaining financial credit, services, medical care and drugs by using another individual's identification details and assuming her/his role in daily life. A rising concern is that these ID theft crimes are committed using a child's identity which can be easily obtained. Some thieves are successful in buying a house or getting a driver's license using a child's identity.

The number of victims of ID theft is increasing by the day and in the United States alone; there are about 10 million victims of identity theft per year. This has resulted in the framing of identity theft laws that are aimed at punishing the ones committing the fraud.

The passing of these ID theft laws has elevated the offense from a mere misdemeanor to a felony. One reason for this is that the conviction rate for an ID thief, assuming they get caught, is around 6-7%. As per the identity theft laws, the maximum prison sentence runs for up to five years and any individual convicted of phishing is awarded an additional two years. There are penalties and additional prison terms for abuse of power, mail fraud, terrorism related offenses.

The individual state penalties for identity theft laws vary widely and almost always the crime is classified into a series of charges ranging from misdemeanors to felonies. The prison term and the penalties that are imposed by the identity theft laws are according to the jurisdiction of the state where the crime is committed.

The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 established the Red Flags Rule and contains provisions to aid in enforcement of the identity theft laws. The Red Flags Rule required by the Federal Trade Commission has set up regulations that would require businesses and organizations to design, develop, and implement procedures that would protect consumers from ID theft. The Red Flags Rule requires that the businesses have written documentation as to what acts or activity could constitute potential identity exposure, how the business can flag these activities, how they intend to respond and investigate such flagged alerts, and how they are going to maintain this program and evaluate its success. Violation of the Red Flags Rule can initiate class action and civil lawsuits against the organization. Creditors and financial institutions that have covered accounts were expected to implement the rule before a deadline of November of 2009.

There was also a clarification following the Red Flags Rule implementation that limited the type of creditor that must comply with the rule. The net result has been that the identity theft laws have gotten tougher. The Red Flags Rule has created a framework to identify ID theft and minimize the resources that can be accessed by Identity thieves. Through these current identity theft laws it makes it more difficult for a person trying to commit this crime.

6 Valuables That Don't Belong In Your Wallet

For easy portability, people tend to keep important things in their wallet. While it is an efficient way, it is nevertheless very risky. If supposed you are becoming the victim of theft, your wallet will be an easy pass for the thief to access all your personal data and wealth. Here are 6 valuables you'd better leave at home.

1. A generous amount of money

Carrying a huge amount of money will hurt when they get stolen. It is fine to bring a little extra money, however you are suggested to bring an amount that suits a day expense.

2. Personal Identification Numbers and Passwords

Some people can forget the PIN or passwords to their ATM, e-mail account, home alarm, or any passworded personal belongings. Writing (or listing) the passwords on a piece a paper and keeping them in the wallet or purse is the worst thing you could ever do. You will give the thief total access to your personal belongings. For better security measure, write them down digitally in your cell phone and protect it with password (hope you can remember this one).

3. A huge collection of credit card

Besides carrying a lot of money, people also tend to bring along all their credit cards inside the wallet. When they all get stolen, it will take some time to cancel all of them and get the replacements. Bring one or a couple of credit cards for daily transaction and leave the others safely at your home; that will be wiser.

4. USB devices

Sometimes people store confidential data or important presentation in USB devices and keep them in the wallet. Either meant for primary data or mere backup, losing them is a great pain. Irresponsible thieves may misuse the data and use them for your inconvenience.

5. Social Security card

The digits in your Social Security can mean a lot to you or the thief. With the identification number on the card, other people can apply for a loan, buy luxury items, or open a credit card. While they enjoy the items, it will be your loss to pay for their shopping spree.

6. Passport

When you are traveling abroad, it is a must to bring along your passport. However, carrying it around everywhere you go is not a safe thing to do; you'd better keep it inside the hotel safe instead. For your identification, bring the photocopy of the passport and your driving license inside your wallet. This is a better way to prevent identity theft.

What You Don't Know About Computers May Get Your Identity Stolen

With the recent hacking of social sites, and the traumatic experiences that are in my book about identity theft and identity fraud, gives me even more reason to pause. Our privacy has been compromised for years. Yet, no one actually takes the time to really listen to what is "really" being said. If our information is stolen, we do not know how many people the thief actually sells our information to and what happens after the sale.

Working in the financial industry for many years, I witnessed the exact same situations. My clients, and with people who didn't become my clients. They said, "Oh, it will never happen to me." Many of these people would tell me God would take care of them. Had it ever occurred to these people, that working through my services, was God's way of helping these folks?

After leaving the financial industry, and I left because of my own identity theft, my lessons of life escalated. I myself never thought that I would be the target of identity thief. Yet, it happened to me. While alone and in trauma, I learned everything possible about the computer, and also how the Phantoms (as I have named them in my book), not only target people online but also offline as well.

Can it happen to anyone. Yes it can. Identity Theft is a stigma that is difficult to overcome. With retirement funds stolen, reputation ruined, bank accounts depleted, and credit cards appearing one after the other, security codes from the banks fraud department breached, targeted people experience a depth of betrayal that can result in a lifetime of work to gain trust, and feel secure.

But trust can return. It's not easy and it takes time. Learning to protect our identity is work. There are many habits we have (especially here in America) that need to be broken, and new habits learned. Example using Debit Cards with pin numbers, even at the ATM. This convenience is a habit that can lead to identity theft. The list can seem endless. But learning the list of ways to protect ourselves is not nearly as endless as the repercussions of the theft.

We must learn to place our lives in God's blessings and miracles network. The is a network where we can truly find safety and security. Many people proclaim to be strong believers, yet it is only lip service. Our identity is unique. No one else is exactly like us. When we lose our financial or professional identity, we many times leave our spirit stark naked and ready for the Phantoms to clothe us in depression, hurt, anger, and lack of trust; especially trusting God. This was my lesson to learn. And it did take a few years. Now, with lessons learned, I can take that trauma and teach other people how to not let it happen to them, and if it does happen to them, how to overcome and start over. But it's difficult to teach an ostrich with his head in the sand.

Stay Organized and Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

Every year, thousands of people are made victims by identity theft. Modern telecommunications devices and computer processing can make it easier for us to stay in touch and process transactions, yet they can also make it easier for criminals to get hold of valuable information.

Be it paper or digital, preventing the wrong element from getting a hold of information they can use to steal from you and others, is important.

Imagine your children's information being used to establish credit cards and loans before they are even old enough to work. Imaging your identity stolen and your credit rating trashed for bad debt that someone else created for you. Worse yet, imagine being arrested for crimes you never committed.

In doing some research on the topic, these are just some of the scenarios I found that identity theft victims have had to live through.

Your safety is my concern, and so in order to prevent any one of these stories from ever being yours, today I offer some tips on identity theft prevention to help you protect yourself, your loved ones, and your business.

Common ways to protect yourself:

Paperwork One easy first step to helping prevent someone from getting a hold of your private details is to invest in a paper shredder. Expect to spend $30.00 - $100.00 depending on what your volume of shredding may be. Shred personal information, credit card and debit card receipts, pre-approved credit applications etc. Cross cut shredders that can handle full sheets of paper make shredding easy and effective.

You can also bring your papers to service providers who make it their business to shred your docs on site. Some will even come to you, should you have a significant amount of documentation to destroy.

Around Town When using your debit and credit cards, watch who is standing around you. Guard your pin number from prying eyes. Also, try not to carry extra credit cards you don't use. That goes for cards like you Social Insurance Number too. Better to leave that in a safe at home if you can.

For added security for your credit cards, cover up the 3 digit code on the back too. Memorize those numbers or write it down in a secret place somewhere separate from the card. That way you won't be sharing that code to everyone you hand your credit card too. I personally got stung on this one not long ago.

At the Mail Box When ordering checks, have them delivered to your local bank instead of to your home. If getting new cards mailed to you, watch that they come on time. If you suspect it's late call the card company to see when it was mailed. If too much time has passed, have the card canceled. Same can go for your bills too.

On-Line Secure your computer with anti-virus, anti-malware and anti-spyware programs. Have a firewall set up and when shopping on-line be sure that the site you are providing your private details to, is secure.

Set clever passwords for your on-line accounts. Combo's of letters and numbers is best. Don't use things like your mother maiden name or the city you were born in.

Personal Information Unless you initiated the call yourself, do not give out personal information over the phone. Keep in mind too that there is technology available to monitor cell phone calls, so use a land-line if you can when you are going to give personal information over the phone. And another tip is to keep your phone number or social security number off of your personal checks.

Some key information that you should be diligent in protecting would be, your full name, date of birth, address, credit card numbers, Social Insurance Number (SIN) and any other personal identification numbers that could be used to open accounts, redirect mail, establish cell phone services, rent vehicles or even secure employment.

Stay Safe!

Why an Identity Theft Defense Attorney Is So Vital

If you have been accused of taking someone else's personal information, you need to know that it is vital that you hire an identity theft defense attorney. Whether or not you are guilty, these are very serious accusations and carry strict penalties and fines. In fact, this is considered a federal offense, and thus you need a lawyer with experience in federal crimes.

Not just any criminal lawyer will do, either. You need one specifically who has experience in this area. You are facing loss of liberty and money, and you need a lawyer who understands this very detailed area of the law.

Thefts of identities are becoming more and more common as the Internet gradually becomes engrained in our society. However, the fact that this crime is very common does not make it less serious in the eyes of the courts. Cyber crimes, including these types of thefts of personal information, leave a nasty trail behind, making it harder for attorneys to fight for their clients in these cases. This is why it is so vital to have one who understands the nature of the crime as well as the laws that surround computer crimes.

Because these thefts typically involve commerce, which is overseen on a federal level, the crime you are being accused of is one that will be prosecuted in federal courts. Not all lawyers have experience in these courts. An identity theft defense attorney will.

Even if you are guilty of wrongdoing, and you know it, you can still benefit from legal help. Often the charges are inflated over the facts involved in the case. People are strongly fearful of this particular crime, and as a result the court system tends to make more out of what you have done than what is warranted. Your lawyer will help bring the charges down to a more reasonable level, so you can benefit from his services to protect your liberty after your alleged crime.

As you look for an identity theft defense attorney, start by looking for one that has a long list of successful cases in this specific area of the law. The more success the lawyer has under his belt, the better your results will likely be, and the more understanding the lawyer will have about the laws surrounding your particular crime.

That said, identity theft defense is a fairly new area of the law. For this reason, experience may not mean a list of hundreds of successful cases. You want a lawyer who knows this branch of the law well, but set your expectations at a reasonable level to ensure that you get quality representation, without expecting too much experience in a new branch of the law.

Identity Theft - Again Tops Lists of Criminal Activity

Yes, we live in the greatest nation with the most abundance. Of course, that also makes us a target for those lazy folks who would like to take what we have without working for it. There are folks abroad that go out of their way in e-mail phishing campaigns to steal our money, but there are also folks here at home, living amongst us who are engaged in identity theft, credit card number stealing, and separating us from our hard earned money. Okay so, I'd like to talk to you a little bit about this if I might.

Is there anything being done? Well, we do seem to be educating the public, and they are no longer are naïve about many of the scams out there online. The media has also done a significant job in warning people of what the latest scams are, as well as what to do about it, or who to contact with a complaint. Also, our computer software companies are better at protecting us as well.

What about the FTC you ask? Sure, they do a lot of PR, and they're always telling us all the great things they are supposedly doing to prevent identity theft. There was an interesting article recently on MSNBC titled; "Consumers' top 10 complaints - Identity theft once again is No. 1 on the FTC's list. Banks and lenders broke into the top 10 at No. 4," posted on March 14, 2012, by Christopher Magg which stated;

"Identity theft continues to be a major concern for American consumers, accounting for more complaints in 2011 than any other type of fraud or scam, according to a report released Tuesday by the Federal Trade Commission. It was the 12th straight year that identity theft topped the list of consumer complaints. The number of ID theft-related complaints grew by 11% to nearly 280,000, the FTC reported."

Okay so, this was a well-written and informative article, perhaps you should read it yourself to see what you can do to prevent identity theft. Still, I do have a problem with the FTC putting out a report that states that lack of funding to their agency will cause more identity theft, and that without the funding the problem will increase. Let me explain to you why.

You see, I've been tracking the FTC for the last decade and watching their PR tactics, advertising, and marketing promoting themselves, as well as watching their dismal performance in protecting the consumer against telemarketers, SPAM, and identity theft. You see, the FTC claims to be working on these problems, but the challenges are growing often at double and triple digits. The FTC has not gotten a handle on this obviously because the problems still exist.

When they went after SPAM, did it stop? No, it still goes on today, and when they worked on telemarketing did they help that situation? Well, a little bit, but my phone still rings several times a day from telemarketers who are supposedly using some type of loophole which allows them to continually call even though there's a law against it now. Indeed, maybe we as taxpayers need to stop paying our federal agencies to put out reports to scare us, to ask for more money of Congress to fix the problem that they have already proved to us to have dismally performed.

Is it right to pick on the FTC and single them out? Sure, they go around doing that to the business community every day, at some point they need to walk their own talk, but they don't, all we get is puffery, and false and misleading public relations pieces, now they want more of our taxpayer's money - no way are you serious? Indeed, I ask that you please consider all this and think on.

Identity Theft - Is Your Child An Easy Target For Thieves?

Children under five years old are the fastest growing victims of identity theft with a 105 percent increase over last year. That would be more than double! You may be asking yourself why the increase?

Toddlers have become the newest and most popular target for criminals because they possess a "clean slate." Their credit is untouched and absent of negative marks.Their identities are not tied to consumer loans, credit cards, student loans, or other lines of credit.

After obtaining a stolen social security number, one way a criminal can carry out identity theft of a child is to "tie" it to a different name and birth date. If a parent doesn't check their child's credit until she turns 18 - which is what the ID Thief is hoping for - the thief will have had 10, 12 up to 17 years of freedom using that one stolen number. That means this crime can often go undetected for years! And because the theft is almost always perpetrated by criminal organizations outside the jurisdiction of the United States, the possibility of prosecution is almost nil.

Case in point:

In Utah, there was a breach in the Health Department server in which thousands of social security numbers of children were exposed. The Utah Attorney General's office says because the thieves were outside the country, those cases cannot be prosecuted. This case was brought to light after the mother of a 5-year-old boy found out that her son's number had been stolen and used since 2001!

Many parents are wondering what they can do to help protect their children's identity.

No one can prevent theft of an identity, but here's a few techniques to make it difficult for a thief to target your child:

1). Pull a credit report on your child from all 3 credit bureaus. If you find out fraud has been committed, file a police report AND an Identity Theft Affidavit. Place an immediate "freeze" on the account.

2). Educate the importance not disclosing any personal information to anyone-online OR off. Also, if they are old enough, teach them about online privacy. Often times, online impostors will try to "bully" or coerce a child into giving up their social security number.

3). Monitor their online activities. I know, you want to be known as the "cool" parent. The difference of being cool or cautious could be catastrophic! You don't want to think back and say, "I shoulda, coulda or woulda."

4). Invest in a paper shredder, preferably a micro-cut unit.

5). And as always, update your internet browser and anti-virus software.

Be safe and stay informed.

Preventing Child Identity Theft

Identity theft doesn't just affect adults. Children are also at risk of having their identity stolen, and this type of crime is becoming more common. Children are good targets for identity theft because it may be years before the crime is discovered. Usually the child's parents discover that their child's identity has been stolen when they attempt to open a bank account or a college fund for their child or when their child begins receiving credit card applications in the mail or calls from collection agencies. They may find out about the crime when their child is denied a driver's license for unpaid traffic tickets or when the police come to their door to arrest them for writing bad checks. These events may happen years after the child's identity is stolen.

Lenders have no way of knowing the age of the person applying for credit. The information on the application is usually accepted with very little investigation into its accuracy. It is important that parents stay vigilant in protecting their children's identity. One way to prevent identity theft is by placing a freeze on their child's credit report. With a freeze in place lenders will not extend credit. The freeze can be lifted when the child becomes an adult and needs to establish a credit history. Parents should also check their child's credit report regularly.

If you discover your child's identity has been stolen, contact the credit agencies, dispute the reporting and ask the credit agencies to remove the notations from the child's credit report. Parents should also file a police report so that there is some record supporting the parent's assertion that their child's identity has been stolen. Request copies of all statements, loan applications and requests for extension of credit from the lenders and provide this information to the police so that they can use it in their investigation.

It can be a very difficult process to clean up a person's credit history after identity theft and it requires very little effort to prevent most cases of identity theft from occurring. Shred documents containing your child's personal information rather than throwing them away. Don't carry your child's social security cards and other documents containing personal information with you. These documents should be kept at home in a secure place or in a safe deposit box. Finally, be on the lookout for signs that there is a problem, such as receiving credit card applications in your child's name in the mail.

Credit Card Security: What to Do If Yours Is Stolen

We all use credit cards, and many of us use them daily. We use them at local businesses, online and over the phone. With credit cards being used in so many different places, thieves have many opportunities to steal information. One of the biggest fears of credit card users is that their accounts will be compromised.

In the event that your card is stolen, it is important to know exactly what to do to prevent significant financial loss. There are several things you can do both before your information becomes compromised, as well as after the fact.

Here are some tips to keep in mind.

1. Notify your credit card company:

Before the theft happens, be sure you have the phone number of your credit company and your account number in an easy-to-find place. Call them immediately upon learning that your information has been stolen, so that they can deactivate your card and prevent future purchases by the thief.

Often credit card companies will not hold you liable for fraudulent charges made on your card. By notifying them quickly, you not only are able to stop future purchases, but your credit company can document the date from which you are not liable for purchases made on your card.

Be sure to write down the names of each person you talk to when you call the company, and document the date and time that you called. It is also useful to have a short, written summary of your phone conversations with each person. This information may be crucial in the event you need to prove that you took immediate action, and that you were instructed by official representatives from your credit card company.

2. Call the credit-reporting agencies:

Alert these companies of the theft so that they can put a fraud-alert on your account. Do this as soon as you become aware that your account has been compromised. This prevents the thieves from opening any new accounts in your name. Here is the contact information for two of the major national credit-reporting agencies.

TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 ( www.transunion.com ) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 ( www.equifax.com )

3. Document your credit status:

You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report from each of the three credit bureaus every year. Take advantage of this if your credit card information falls into the wrong hands. If your credit card information is stolen, it is important to get documented proof of your current credit standing before any fraudulent activity is reported.

Keep in mind that even if you have already obtained a free copy this year, you may be able to get another one if there is a fraud alert on your account.

4. Call your local police

Let them know of the theft and file a police report.

5. Consider filing an identity-theft report:

This report is generally in two parts. You will probably complete part at your local police station and part at a consumer reporting agency.

Hopefully, your credit card information will never be compromised. But if you should become the victim of fraud, these tips will help you take control of the situation as quickly and efficiently as possible.

5 Tips for Preventing Child Identity Theft

Think your child isn't at risk of becoming yet another victim of identity theft? Think again. The FTC estimates that over 140,000 children are victims of ID theft every year, and the Carnegie Mellon University CyLab Child ID Theft Report showed that children are 51 times more likely to experience ID theft than adults.

Preventing child identity theft can be difficult because kids are easier targets than adults. Their Social Security numbers are unused so it's easier to associate different names and birth dates with them. Their identities are typically a blank slate and the likelihood of discovery is low since most parents don't monitor their children's identities.

The crime can go unnoticed for many years, often until they try to open a bank account or apply for a driver's license, job, student loan, or credit as a young adult. By then their identity could have been stolen and sold multiple times by thieves using it to obtain credit cards, insurance, medical services, employment, housing, passports, government benefits, and loans. The list goes on and on.

Safeguarding your child from identity theft begins with recognizing the signs, such as receiving unsolicited credit card offers or bills in his or her name. Here are five tips for preventing child identity theft:

1. Don't disclose Social Security numbers. Your child's Social Security number is the most important piece of personal information to protect. If an organization requests your child's Social Security number, ask how it will be used and how it will be protected. As the prevalence of ID theft has grown, providing a Social Security number is typically not required unless there are tax implications.

2. Request your child's credit report. The credit reporting agencies don't keep credit reports for minors because they aren't allowed to open lines of credit. If your child has a credit report, you know ID theft has been committed.

3. Get a crosscut shredder and put it to work. Shred all documents you receive in the mail that contain your child's personal information. Remember that mail such as unsolicited credit card offers are indicators of child identity theft, so shred these documents right away. (Don't forget to do this for yourself as well.) Then contact the credit bureaus to see if there's a credit file in your child's name.

4. Don't carry around your child's Social Security number. Preventing child identity theft also includes locking up his or her Social Security number with other important personal identity records such as birth certificates and passports, and only access it when you absolutely need it. Locking up all private information is generally a good idea to prevent houseguests or babysitters from viewing it.

5. Monitor your child's social networking accounts. Identity thieves troll social networking websites, so make sure private information like date of birth, address, and names of family members are not included in profiles. It's also a good idea to set privacy settings so your child's profile can only be viewed by friends and family.

In addition to these do-it-yourself precautions, you can start proactively preventing child identity theft by relying on a trusted company like Entrust America. Entrust America will protect you and your family from all forms of ID theft, and is the only company with a proprietary partnership with law enforcement nationwide to recover identities and ensure you get back to pre-theft status.

Learn more about preventing child identity theft by visiting http://www.TheIdentityAdvocate.com or calling 310.831.4400.

The 7 Tell-Tale Signs of Identity Theft and How to Avoid Becoming a Victim

Attention: These are examples of identity theft and could be the only signs you'll get that you may be a victim of identity theft. If you suspect someone has stolen your ID and is being used for fraudulent activities, you'll need to act as soon as you can to limit the damage.

1). Your Expected Mail is Missing. Sometimes when a thief steals your account information they change the mailing address so they receive the bills and other correspondence from your bank or other financial institution. This makes it easier for the crooks to change the PIN or password that unlocks the account. Be on the lookout for regular bills that don't arrive.

2). You Receive Mail or Phone Calls You Don't Expect. Normally, when a thief has taken over your identity, it's for one reason and one reason only-a financial one. They are scheming on how to turn your good credit into a quick payday for them. In doing so, they may have caused an invoice, receipt or some kind of notice to be sent to your home. If this is the case, contact the organization immediately for an explanation. The same holds true with unexpected telephone calls. Unfortunately, this call will be from a collection agency about an unpaid bill.

3). You Notice Unusual Entries On Your Credit Report. Since you are allowed to "pull" your credit report from all 3 major credit bureaus once a year, do so. Scan and report any incorrect information. Once corrected, you now have a clean and reliable report from which to monitor. If a new entry appears and you have no idea what it is, investigate it promptly!

4). You Are Denied Credit. Unfortunately, one of the most common ways to find out your identity has been stolen is when you apply for new credit and are denied. Of course this only applies to people with good credit in the first place. What happened is the thief has opened credit accounts in your name, not paid the bills, and the creditor has dinged your credit report.

5). You Find Strange Entries On Your Credit Card Statements. It's not very difficult to use a stolen credit card to make fraudulent purchases. Always check your statements and look for unusual purchases that you normally don't make. A professional identity thief will test out the account with a small purchase to see if the card is still valid.

6). You Bounce a Check or Discover Your Credit Card Transaction Has Been Turned Down Unexpectedly. Identity thieves who steal from banks and credit card accounts tend to make as many charges as they can as quickly as they can before you find out and deactivate the card or account. If this is the case, you may need to fill out an identity theft report or "ID Theft Affidavit".

7). One of Your Online Accounts Has Uncommon Transactions or You Get Odd Emails. You may have an account with Amazon or iTunes for example. For a professional ID thief, these accounts are easily hacked because they only require a user name and password. Since the products are mostly digital and can be downloaded immediately, a crook can avoid the address-of-record protection usually associated with purchases of a physical product.

In summary, the best identity theft protection plan starts with you. You must be proactive!

Be safe and stay informed.

The Urgency of ID Theft Prevention

You don't need to have a computer to become a victim of identity theft... but it helps. Cyber-crimes involving identity theft continue to rise, so you can consider yourself vulnerable if you use the Internet and do not have an ID theft prevention plan. Hackers find new and ingenious ways to steal personal information every day, and the growing instances of data breaches of large institutions' databases puts sensitive information at risk on a global scale.

Online scammers use numerous tactics to steal identities, including posing as trusted websites to obtain private information they use to open bank accounts, obtain credit, apply for loans, get driver's licenses, and even use your health insurance, to name a few. Add organized crime and all of the "non-high-tech" ways to steal identities to the mix, and we have an identity theft epidemic that shows no signs of subsiding anytime soon.

But you are anything but helpless in the fight against ID theft. By taking a proactive, vigilant approach to ID theft prevention, you can significantly decrease your chances of becoming a victim. Here are a few high-tech and not-so-high-tech types of identity theft tactics to watch out for, and what you can do (and not do) to prevent identity theft from happening to you:

Prevent Phishing:

Phishing occurs when an identity thief sends an email from a familiar and official-looking company (such as your bank or a retailer) and asks you to click on a link to verify or update personal information. The website you are sent to appears identical to the real company's site, making you feel comfortable about providing your information.

• ID theft prevention tip: Don't click on links in unsolicited emails and never provide your personal information unless you absolutely have to. Remember that your bank, credit card company, and other reputable organizations will never ask you to "update" personal data online.

Avoid Hacking:

Hacking takes many forms, and often occurs when identity thieves successfully "guess" or decipher your passwords, PINs, or security questions.

• ID theft prevention tip: Use strong passwords (avoid obvious personal information such as your birth date) and change passwords frequently. Don't forget about social networking sites, either. Making public personal information such as your birth date, address, and even your high school also makes you vulnerable to hackers.

Guard Against Dumpster Diving:

When it comes to identity theft, the old adage that "one man's trash is another man's treasure" couldn't be more true. Your personal information is a goldmine. Discarded credit card applications, bank account documents, and even the information on medication bottles give identity thieves the opportunity to pose as you in ways that can seriously damage your financial and healthcare information.

• ID theft prevention tip: Shred all personal documents before throwing them out, don't leave trash cans out on the curb longer than necessary, and consider paying bills online instead of writing checks.

These are just three of the many cunning methods ID theft criminals use to steal identities, slip away undetected, and then reappear to use that information to their benefit. Whether online or offline, staying proactive and vigilant is critical.