Before we go into how we can avoid identity theft, let us see what identity theft means. Identity theft is mostly defined as a state where another person uses your name to appropriate gains due to you – this could be anything from abusing your credit cards to usurping your medical insurance or bank balance, or committing crimes in your name.

Then, you will have the bank personnel who will have access to your account number as well. Can you realize how inviting it can be to know the details you have mentioned? If that check falls into the hands of any unscrupulous person, you will be wide open for identity theft whereby your bank can be cleared within minutes.

How to Avoid Identity Theft?

Basically one word will do here – careful. If you are careful, you will be able to sidestep a good number of traps and avoid identity theft effectively. The following guidelines would be helpful:

1. Keep all the critical information (it is even better if your keep all your information) concealed. Do not write your driver license number or social security number anywhere, lest people will copy it and use it. This is particularly important when it comes to checks. People tend to write all kind of identity information right on the back of the checks. You should rather give only your phone number and if the bank needs further identification or verification, they will call you up.

2. Never give any information over the phone. How do you know that the person at the end of the line is a genuine person? If the bank is calling you, ask the name of the person and inform that you will give the information in person, or send it through someone you authorize on your behalf.

3. Never give your financial details for buying things over the Internet. Whenever you like something, check out the website (name of the enterprise) with the BBB or Better Business Bureau to see whether they are genuine. Unless you do this, you might be feeding your financial information into a clone website. This is one of the most popular methods to steal people’s identity; hence, you should be very careful about what you are doing and with whom you are interacting to avoid identity theft.

FAU Grad Arrested For Identity Theft To Save On Tuition

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- A former Florida Atlantic University student accused of stealing someone's identity to save money on college costs has been arrested.

Child's Identity Stolen, Credit Damaged

Jake LeGette didn't have much else to worry about than a typical 11-year-old: finishing homework, hanging out with friends and having a good day on the football field. But that all changed when a shocking revelation gave the pre-teen a very adult set of problems to deal with.

Identity Theft

BEWARE OF IDENTITY THEFT You never know who or what might be trying to impersonate you! Have a good day all! ;)

Study: Password Leads to ID Thefts

Excerpt: It might be hard to believe, but there are still plenty of people using "password" as a password for their e-mails, bank accounts and more.

Correction: Identity theft story

In a Feb. 10 story about a woman who stole an identity to attend an Ivy League school, The Associated Press reported erroneously that police were tipped to the scheme last June. Authorities became aware of Esther Reed's scam in 2006.

Missing SC woman's family: ID thief won't change

Lisa Henson got some satisfaction from facing the thief who used her missing niece's identity to scam her way into an Ivy League school.