Many times people unwittingly give information when completing surveys or questionnaires, or when talking to strangers over the phone who ask for information in exchange for goods or services. Even papers in your trash can provide valuable information for thieves. Invest in a home shredding device and shred your important documents instead of throwing them in the trash.

Skilled identity thieves can also get information from businesses or other institutions by stealing records from their employer, bribing an employee who has access to these records or hacking into the organizations computers.

• Rummage through your trash, or the trash of businesses or dumps, in a practice called "dumpster diving".
• Obtain credit reports by abusing their employer's authorized access to credit reports, or by posing as a landlord, employer, or someone else who may have a legal right to the information.
• Steal credit and debit card numbers as your card is processed using a special information storage device in a practice known as "skimming."
• Steal wallets and purses containing I.D., credit and bank cards.
• Steal mail, including bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, new checks, or tax information.
• Complete a "change of address" form to divert your mail to another location.
• Steal personal information from your home or vehicle.
• Scam information from you by posing as a legitimate business person or government official.

• Go on spending sprees using your credit and debit card account numbers to buy "big ticket" items like computers that they can easily sell.
• Open a new credit card account, using your name, date of birth, and social security number (SSN). When they don't pay the bills, the delinquent account is reporting on your credit report.
• Change the mailing address on your credit card account. The imposter then runs up charges on the account. Because the bills are being sent to the new address, it may take some time before you realize there is a problem.
• Take out auto loans in your name.
• Establish phone, wireless, or utility service in your name.
• Counterfeit checks or debit cards, and drain your bank account.
• Open a bank account in your name and write bad checks on that account.
• File for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts they've incurred, or to avoid eviction.
• Give your name to the police during an arrest. If they are released and don't show up for their court date, an arrest warrant could be issued in your name.

• Do not give out personal information over the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or know whom you're dealing with. Identity thieves will pose as bank representatives, Internet service providers, and even government officials to get you to reveal identifying information.
• Protect your social security number. Avoid giving it out, and do not write your social security number on checks or other documents unless you're sure it's necessary.
• Do not use your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your social security number, or a similar series of numbers as a password for anything.
• Shred all documents, including pre-approved credit card offers, insurance forms, bank and credit card statements, and other personal documents before throwing away.
• Minimize the identification information and the number of cards you carry. Take what you'll actually need. Don't carry your social security card, birth certificate, or passport, unless necessary.
• Do not put your social security number on your checks or your credit receipts. If a business requests your social security number, give them an alternate number and explain why. If a government agency requests your social security number, there must be a privacy notice accompanying the request.
• Do not put your telephone number on checks.
• Protect incoming and outgoing mail. Pick mail up promptly, and deposit mail at the post office or in official blue mailboxes.
• Check your credit card status with the three major credit-reporting bureaus yearly. Dispute information that is suspicious.
• Deal only with companies that you know have good reputations.
• Review bank and credit card statements and report questionable charges.
• Be careful using ATM's and phone cards. Someone may look over your shoulder and get your PIN numbers, thereby gaining access to your accounts. Take ATM, credit card and other receipts with you.
• Make a list of all your credit card account numbers and bank account numbers with customer service phone numbers and keep it in a safe place.
• When you order new credit cards in the mail, or previous ones have expired, watch the calendar to make sure you get the card within the appropriate time. If the card is not received within that time, call the credit card granter immediately to find out if the card has been sent. If you don't receive the card, check to make sure a change of address was not filed.
• Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if bills don't arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your credit card account and changed your billing address.
• Cancel all credit cards that you have not used in the last six months. Open credit is a prime target.
• Order your credit report at least twice a year. Here in Arizona you are allowed one free report from each of the three credit reporting companies per year. For information on obtaining your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com, or call 877-322-8228. Reports should be obtained from all three major sources:
  
  
• TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
• Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374- 0241
• Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); www.experian.com; P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013
  
  
• Correct all mistakes on your credit report in writing. Send the letters return receipt requested. Identify the problems item by item and send with a copy of the credit report back to the credit reporting agency. You should hear from the agency within 30 days.
• Write to Direct Marketing Association, Mail Preference Service, PO Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735 to get your name off direct mail lists.

• Act immediately.
• Notify the police, your bank, your credit card companies, and the Fraud Units at the credit bureaus.

Remember…
The person who steals your identity may be someone you have never met and will, in all likelihood, never meet. In our society they only need a minimum amount of information about you to ruin your financial status and reputation.

Be aware and take some simple steps to help lessen the chance that you will be a victim of identity theft.

Printer friendly version - Identity Theft Tips

• ID Theft: What's It All About  / Todo sobre el Robo de Identidad
• Identity Crisis...What to Do If Your Identity is Stolen / Crisis de Identidad...Qué Hacer si le Roban su Identidad
• Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft / Tome Control: Defiéndase contra el Robo de Identidad
• Fighting Back Against Identy Theft / Defiendase Contra El Robo de Identidad
• Talking About Identity Theft: A How To Guide
• How Not to Get Hooked by a ‘Phishing’ Scam / Cómo Evitar que lo 'Pesquen' con una Red de Estafa Electrónica

The Office of the Arizona Attorney General also provides information to consumers regarding preventing and reporting identity theft as well as information regarding Arizona's Identity Theft Law.

Other sites on the Web for more information:

• AARP
• ID Theft Resource Center 1-888-400-5530
• National Crime Prevention Council
• Internet Crimes Complaint Center IC3