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You may think that you have done everything you can to protect your private information. The question is do you really know how the identity thieves are able to steal people’s identity. There are three different ways identity thieves work. They try to steal your identity from documents that contain the private information. They try to steal your identity in person or online. If you know the methods they use, you will be able to protect yourself. Identity theft in person One of the most common ways your identity will be stolen is the oldest method. The thief will simply take it. If you hand your credit card to a clerk at a store or a waitress at restaurant and it leaves your site, you are at risk. The thief may take your card and utilize a device known as a skimmer to take your private information. They will then use this information to steal from you. Another common method is a thief who may pickpocket you. They will have access to your identification, your credit cards and any other information that is in your wallet or purse. Travelers are often the most likely victims of pickpockets. They have more cash and carry more ID and credit cards because they are traveling. If you want know how to prevent identity theft that occurs this way, keep an eye on your things at all times. Do not let your credit cards out of site and be careful when you use any machines to swipe your credit card. If it appears to have been tampered with, stay away from it. Online identity theft This typeof theft is growing fast. When it comes to protecting your privacy online, common sense is your best tool. By following some basic rules and not breaking them; you will be much safer. • Have a security program installed on your computer and secure your computer network at home. • Never provide any private information to a site you do not trust or that does not have a secure method of keeping your information safe. • If you are on a public network, never provide private information for any site. Wait until you are at home on a secure network • Never click on any links in an email. You cannot be sure where they will take you. • Be careful when downloading anything. It could contain spyware or malware that will retrieve your private information • Teach your kids the same rules that you will follow. They are targets for identity thieves as well. • Do not count on the internet privacy laws to protect you from identity thieves. They are already breaking at least one law by trying to steal your information, they do not care about privacy laws. The internet is an important part of the lives of many people today. Make sure that you use the internet the right way and never put your privacy at risk. Identity theft from documents You probably fill out paperwork on a regular basis that contains your private information. You receive things in the mail such as credit card offers that contain information that is valued by identity thieves. You have paper bills that you receive with sensitive information. You need to make sure that no one ever sees this information who will use it to steal your identity. • Shred any old bills, credit card offers and any other documents that contain personal and private information. Do not wait to do this and never put it in the trash without first shredding it. • Stop your mail when you are on vacation. It is safer to have your mail held at the post office than it is to have someone pick it up for you. An identity thief could get to it easily, before it is picked up if you are not careful. They will have access to the documents that you would have shredded. • Make sure any paperwork you fill out for a business is stored securely or shredded. Once you realize how identity thieves work, you can make the changes that you need to prevent them from stealing your identity. Your best weapon is knowledge and once you have it, you should be better protected. Jana Lynn is an active blogger who is fond of writing articles on identity theft and helping people to protect against identity theft. Follow her on Twitter to know more on why is your identity at risk.
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protecting your privacy online, how to prevent identity theft, internet privacy laws,
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