Identity theft is a tremendously growing crime. People can steal your personal information and use it to buy things off your credit, open checking accounts, and sell it to illegal aliens. Identity theft is tremendously damaging to the victim and can ruin their lives for years. From your Social Security Number SSN, to your drivers license number, date of birth, credit card numbers, and address, identity thieves can exploit any of these for their ill gotten gains.

1. You'll have to establish a good sense of paranoia. This means that you do not share your personal information with everybody who asks. For instance, if you are buying a car from a car dealership, seek financing through your bank rather than a dealership. This way the dealerships have no business knowing what your Social Security Number is. If they ask, ask why they need it, and make sure it is a very valid reason. The same goes for any type of financing, do it through your bank or credit union whom already has your SSN on file.

2. Secure your computer. There are viruses, key loggers, and Trojans that all will record every keystroke you put in and email it to a person overseas. This is a huge way for people to steal your identity. Make sure you have up to date virus scanning software installed, and a good spy ware scanner.

3. Destroy all your documents that contain personal information. This does not always mean you have to buy a shredder. What I do is keep a small box full of documents that are sensitive, and once a year, they go in our BBQ grill.

4. Pay cash at restaurants, do not give strangers access to your credit cards that will have your name, credit card number, and security code on the back. Identity thieves can order products off the internet through proxy servers and send them to abandoned houses in their neighborhoods.

5. Do not give your pin number to anybody. Do not use funky ATM type machines where a cashier gives you a keypad to insert your pin number to withdraw cash. These machines can have a laptop under the counter reading your card information and they can swipe your pin. An identity thief can easily then duplicate your debit card and withdraw your bank limit at 11:55pm and then again at 12:05am before you know what happened to you.

6. Take travelers checks and minimal documentation with you overseas. Do not ever give out your social security number overseas.

7. Be very paranoid of web sites that want your social security number. If you are not applying for credit or earning money, the site has no business needing it.