How Serious is the Problem?

Government officials call identity that "the fastest growing crime in the nation," with over 400,000 people affected last year alone. The average financial loss to an identity fraud victim is estimated at $36,000.

Thieves obtain personal information such as social security numbers, driver's license numbers, credit card numbers and even birth certificates and passports. Accounts are then opened in the victim's name for credit card and loans with the mail diverted to a different address.

With this approach, it could take months or years to learn that you are a victim. Pay attention to the tips listed below.

How To Guard Against It

1. Remove mail promptly from your mailbox. Never use your mailbox for outgoing mail. Identity theives raid mailboxes to steal credit card offers and financial statements.
2. Guard your social security number. Do not give out personal information like PIN or credit card numbers over the phone or the internet unless you initiated the transaction. Identity thieves often call you posing as an internet provider or credit card company to gain knowledge of your accounts.
3. Be very careful with receipts. Make sure you have them when you leave the store or ATM and do not throw them into a public trash can. Thieves use these receipts to access your accounts.
4. Review your credit report from time to time. You can obtain a free credit report once a year from each of the credit reporting agencies.  The major credit bureaus are: EQUIFAX: 800-525-6285 (www.equifax.com)
   EXPERIAN: 888-397-3742 (www.experian.com)
   TRANS UNION: 800-680-7289 (www.tuc.com)
   
5. Destroy pre-approved credit card offers before you throw them out. A home shredder is the best thing to use on financial statements, receipts and old cancelled checks that you are discarding
6. Account for all new checkbooks when you receive them in the mail. If any are missing, report stolen checks immediately. Keep new and cancelled checks in a safe place.
7. Block your ATM transaction with your body. Keep the keyboard from view to prevent someone from learning your personal identification number (PIN).
8. Commit all passwords and personal identification numbers to memory. The less you have on paper the les likely it is that someone will learn these numbers.
9. Be creative when you select a password. Don't be obvious like using the last four digits of your social security number, phone number, address, birth date or any format that could easily be decoded by thieves.

What To Do If You Are A Victim