Due to the current recession, more and more identity thieves are out there. They can steal your identity in a heartbeat and you won’t even know it until it is too late. Keep from being a victim by learning how you can easily become one.

1. By sharing your personal financial information with other people. This includes other family members. Many identity thieves are people that you know. They obtain your information by being close to you. It is a good rule of thumb not to leave important documents or mail laying around where anyone who enters your home could get access to it.
2. Giving out financial information over the telephone. This is a ploy used by identity thieves to reach the unsuspecting. They make calls pretending to be a reputable agency or a bank and ask for social security and credit card numbers. Just like that, the criminal has access to your entire life. The same advice applies online as well. Do not answer unsolicited email that request personal information even if they seem like they are from your bank. Many identity thieves send out mass emails in the hopes of catching a few. If in doubt, call your bank or other institution to confirm that they are trying to reach you.
3. Someone steals your wallet. This method used to be the most common. Thieves still steal your wallet to use credit cards, get social security cards and driver’s licenses. Don’t carry your social security card in your wallet or write down PIN numbers and keep them there. If your wallet is stolen, cancel credit cards immediately and report the theft to police. Keeping all agencies on alert before anything happens will send up red flags when the thief tries to use your information.
4. Forgetting to shred all mail. Even junk mail can be dangerous in the hands of the wrong person. The safest way to keep thieves out of your trash is to shred it before disposing of it.
5. Acting unwisely in public places. When people think they are safe, they may let down their guard. Unfortunately, this is when identity thieves strike. In stores, keep your purse or wallet close at hand so that no one can pick your pockets. When punching in PIN numbers, cover the screen with your hand so no one can see your numbers. Avoid putting driver’s license numbers on your checks and also telephone numbers. People seldom write checks these days unless it is to pay bills. In the grocery store, they often ask for this information on checks but you can write it down for the clerk. If a check is stolen from you, this information can prove valuable to the thief.