| Identity theft has continued to menace not only | | | | wallets and handbags. |
| societies in North America but other societies in the | | | | Despite the success of identity thieves in stealing |
| whole world. It has taken millions of victims numbering | | | | millions of people's identity, there are actually simple |
| to 9 million in North America alone in 2005. Under its | | | | and yet effective ways of protecting yourself against |
| influence, millions, if not billions, of losses have been | | | | identity theft. |
| accrued by identity theft victims which are does not | | | | 1. Whenever you try to withdraw funds from an ATM |
| only consist of individuals but even corporations and | | | | machine, you have to look behind your shoulders |
| businesses as well. The numbers are steadily | | | | before you key in your PIN code. This would prevent |
| increasing and it's the future of identity theft, | | | | any shoulder surfer from getting your information while |
| considering today's trend, will only mean more victims | | | | you make your transaction. This is also true when you |
| and more millions of losses incurred. | | | | read sensitive credit card information while on the bus |
| What's really unfortunate and frustrating about identity | | | | or the train. You have to be very cautious of the eyes |
| theft is the fact that the victims do not even realize | | | | that may be spying behind your shoulder. |
| that their identity has already been stolen until they | | | | 2. Any documents or communications that contain |
| receive their credit card statement, a collection agency | | | | valuable information about your finances should be |
| calls them or they are pulled over for speeding and the | | | | properly disposed of. You do not just throw them out |
| scan will show that there are pending warrants waiting | | | | of the trash as this could only expose your identity |
| to be served to them. By this time, everything will be | | | | more. Remember, when you throw your trash out of |
| too late. Majority of identity scams involve fraudulent | | | | your apartment, it then becomes a public property |
| financial transactions but there are also criminal and | | | | which anyone could pick up and take home. |
| medical identity theft. | | | | 3. Keep your antivirus and anti-spyware updated. Do |
| Most criminals involved in identity theft utilize highly | | | | not turn off your computer's firewall and when setting |
| advanced equipments and technologies to steal | | | | up passwords, do not make it universal and use a |
| identities of other people. Most common of these | | | | combination of letters and numbers. Also, it is important |
| methods include hacking customer or client's | | | | that you only transact online over secure connections. |
| databases, phishing, and embedding malwares and | | | | 4. Do not stash your social security card and birth |
| spywares in another person's computer. These | | | | certificate in your wallet. You don't have to bring them |
| modern techniques are sometimes mixed with | | | | everywhere you go. This will only increase the risk of |
| traditional methods-which happen to be the most | | | | your identity being stolen when somebody else |
| effective way of stealing identity-like shoulder surfing, | | | | snatches your bag or purse. |
| credit card thefts, dumpster diving and snatching | | | | |