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.

5 "DISPOSABLE" Web Accounts to Keep Your Identity Safe

Fed up with spam? Tired of telemarketing calls? Feelin' paranoid about identity theft? … Here you'll find a bunch "throwaway" web tools that can help you out. are you worried about someone stealing your identity?

5 Tips for Safer Online Shopping

Shopping online is fast and convenient, but it comes with its own set of pros and cons. One such issue is security, which haunts each and every one of us who shop online.

Phishing Catching Big Fish

Internet users who fell for phishing e-mails in the past year lost five times as much money as victims in the preceding 12 months and are far less likely to recover the stolen funds, according to a survey released Thursday by the Gartner security firm.

Hacking Made Easy

When Graeme Frost received an e-mail notice that an expensive digital camera had been charged to his credit card account, he immediately clicked on the Internet link included in the message that said it would allow him to dispute the charge.

Lifelock to pay $12 million to settle deceptive practices claim - CNET

eCreditDaily.com

Lifelock to pay $12 million to settle deceptive practices claim CNET "While LifeLock promised consumers complete protection against all types of identity theft, in truth, the protection it actually provided left enough holes ... LifeLock Named "Best Overall" by Identity Theft LabsMarketWatch (press release) Business news briefsPittsburgh Post Gazette Lifelock Dinged $12 Million for Deceptive Business PracticesWired News Statesboro Business News all 414 news articles »

“Jihad Jane” indicted in global terror plot - The Hindu

Washington Post

“Jihad Jane” indicted in global terror plot The Hindu ... kill in a foreign country, making false statements to a government official and attempted identity theft, according to the Department of Justice (DoJ). ... Muslim convert Colleen LaRose, aka Jihad Jane, faces terror chargesThe Guardian US woman indicted on terror chargesBBC News LaRose Charged With Using The Internet to Help Terrorists OverseasABC News Philadelphia Inquirer -FOXNews all 1,079 news articles »