Protection From Identity Theft In The Real World

As was mentioned previously, identity theft can occur both in the real world and the online world. In the real world, or "offline" world, identity theft involves stealing your credit card receipts, buying your personal information from unscrupulous credit bureau employees or just the traditional picking your pocket.

In the offline world, there is certainly a better chance of catching the perpetrators because their activities could be caught on security cameras or there can be witnesses who are willing to report and testify to the crime. But even then, you still should not let your guard down. Here are some ways to guard against the "old fashioned" way of stealing your identity (in no particular order):

• Always keep a copy of all your credit cards, bank account numbers and especially your social security number and keep them in a safe place;
• Check your credit report at least once a year;
• Do not dispose of your credit card receipts in a public place;
• Keep your cancelled checks in a safe place or have your bank do it as you can retrieve later them if you need a copy;
• Shred any bank or credit card statements before throwing them away;
• Choose hard to guess numbers for your PIN, do not use birthdates or telephone numbers;
• Do not use an ATM machine if someone is watching you and cover the ATM machine's numeric keypad with your other hand as you enter your PIN;
• Be alert to what is going on around you or any suspicious persons close to you;
• Do not carry information about your PIN numbers and account numbers in your wallet or purse. If you need to, do not make them easily identifiable as such;
• Never give social security number or personal information to anyone who calls you asking for it. Most reputable financial institutions will ask you to visit their offices if such information is needed, never by phone;
• Review your credit card bills each month for suspicious and unfamiliar charges and report them immediately;
• Do not leave your wallet or purse inside a parked car and in plain view;

According to a survey by the Better Business Bureau, family freinds and neighbors account for half of all identity thieves. While they may not be criminals, they may have been negligent in handling the sensitive information that victims entrusted them which resulted in the information being stolen.

Criminals prey on people's carelessness and ignorance. People sometimes have a cynical attitude about such things and that identity theft could never happen to them. And it is exactly this type of attitude that encourage criminals.