Identity theft is a serious crime that continues to grow. If you \rbecome a victim of identity theft, you may spend months, or \ryears, trying to repair the damage. A compromised credit report \rcan ruin your chances of getting a new job, a loan, insurance or \reven housing. It's true that it is possible that you could be \rarrested for a crime you didn't commit if someone else has used \ryour identity to break a law.

Unfortunately, many of the methods that thieves use to steal \ridentities are completely beyond your control. Although it's \rrare, some store clerks have been known to use their position to \rgive or sell information to identity thieves. There are some \rmeasures you can take, however, that will make it harder for them \rto steal your identity.

Protect Your Credit Card Number When Making Purchases:

After you make a purchase and your credit or debit card has been \rswiped through a credit card terminal, check to make sure that \rthe printed receipt hides all but the last four digits of your \rcredit card account number (there will usually be an x in place \rof the first twelve digits).

Some credit card terminals do print receipts that show all \rsixteen digits of an account number, and may even include the \rexpiration date! After your card is swiped, you're permitted by \rlaw to hide the first 12 digits of your account number on the \rcopy of the receipt that the vendor keeps. Use a pen or marker to \rcross-out the other numbers completely.

When dining out, it's important to make sure that the first 12 \rdigits of your credit card number are hidden on the receipt. You \rmight be in the habit of signing it and then leaving the \rrestaurant's copy on the table after your meal. An identity thief \rcan steal the signed receipt before the waiter comes back to pick \rit up from the table.

Do You Really Need To Give Your Social Security Number?

Avoid giving out your social security number unless it's \rabsolutely necessary. Although you need to share your social \rsecurity number when you apply for credit or for a bank account, \rsometimes a store or an organization will want to use it as an ID \rnumber. This is a fairly common practice even though the law says \rthat social security numbers aren't to be used as ID numbers. In \rthese situations, use your judgment. There's usually an \ralternative if you ask.

Destroy Documents That Contain Sensitive Personal Information:

Buy an office paper shredder and use it to destroy documents \ryou're discarding which contain personal information like credit \rcard numbers, social security numbers, phone numbers and birth \rdates. Do this both at home and at work.

Identity thieves frequently go through someone's trash to find \rpersonal information that can help them obtain credit in the \rvictim's name.

If It Happens To You, Take The Following Steps Immediately:

1: Contact your credit card companies, close your accounts and \rask to have new cards issued to you.

2: Place a fraud alert on your file with the three major credit \rbureaus (Equifax: 1-800-525-6285, Experian: 1-888-397-3742 & \rTrans Union: 1-800-680-7289).

3: File a report with your local police department. You may need \rit to show to creditors a copy of the report as proof of the \rcrime.

4: File a complaint with the FTC: \rhttp://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/ - They maintain a database of \ridentity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for their \rinvestigations.

Mike Nalbone Is The Webmaster At: \rhttp://Online-Background-Check.net Which Provides News, \rInformation And Resources That Anyone Can Use To Do Online \rInvestigations And Criminal Background Checks.

This Article Is ? 2005 & May Be Published Solely In Its Entirety, \rUn-Modified, Provided The Above Resource Box Is Included Along \rWith An Active (Clickable) Link To: \rhttp://Online-Background-Check.net

Mike Nalbone Is The Webmaster At: \rhttp://Online-Background-Check.net Which Provides News, \rInformation And Resources That Anyone Can Use To Do Online \rInvestigations And Criminal Background Checks.