| What most people don't realize is the information | | | | that requires you to provide sensitive information, |
| can also be used to supply false identifications for | | | | you should never click the link in the email to get |
| others needing a new identity, such as illegal | | | | to the site. It is easy to copy a site or the look |
| immigrants in need of documentation for work or | | | | of a site and stick it in an email advertisement. If |
| medical services. | | | | you need to go the site, click over to Google, |
| Playing for identity theft is all about decreasing | | | | Yahoo or MSN and search for the site. By taking |
| your odds of having a problem. Unfortunately, | | | | this step, you avoid all the potential scams in email |
| there is no way to completely be sure you are | | | | communications. |
| covered because you have no control over | | | | The newest area of identity theft has to do with |
| businesses that have your information. That is | | | | taxes. Specifically, thieves are sending out emails |
| just life. There are, however, steps you can take | | | | purportedly from the IRS. Don't fall for it! The IRS |
| to limit your exposure. | | | | NEVER communicates by email. If you have any |
| First and foremost, you need to either keep or | | | | doubts whatsoever about whether you have a |
| shred any documents that have critical personal | | | | tax issue, you should pick up the phone and call |
| financial information on them. When you get credit | | | | the IRS. Remember, every single "IRS email" is a |
| card statements in the mail, you need to make | | | | scam trying to swipe your identity. Don't fall for it. |
| sure to shred them when you are done with | | | | At the moment this article was written, it was |
| them. Dumpster diving is a common technique | | | | out of date. Why? There is a new scam floating |
| used by thieves to find information. The same | | | | around every day. Follow the steps above and |
| goes for cutting up and shredding expired credit | | | | you will be doing more than most to prevent |
| cards. If it has a number on it, make sure it is | | | | your identity from being stolen. That being said, |
| destroyed regardless of what it is. | | | | you should also use your common sense when |
| The second biggest step you can take has to do | | | | evaluating situations. |
| with email communications. If you receive an email | | | | |