Everyday Wealth:

Identity-Theft is the fastest growing crime in America; 9.9 MILLION victims were reported last year (2002), according to a Federal Trade Commission survey! It is epidemic. It is nationwide. It affects EVERYBODY, and there is very little you can do to prevent it. You probably will not detect it until it's too late.

Vigilance is your best weapon. Routinely check your credit report for unauthorized activity, guard your Social Security number and keep track of all your accounts. The best protection is prevention. 4. Remove your name from the marketing lists of the three credit reporting bureaus to reduce the number of pre-approved credit offers you receive. 5. Add your name to the name-deletion lists of the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service and Telephone Preference Service used by banks and other marketers. 6. Do not carry extra credit cards or other important identity documents except when needed. 7. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Copy both sides of your license and credit cards so you have all the account numbers, expiration dates and phone numbers if your wallet or purse is stolen. 8. Do not mail bill payments and checks from home. They can be stolen from your mailbox and washed clean in chemicals. Take them to the post office. 9. Do not print your Social Security number on your checks. 10. Order your Social Security Earnings and Benefits statement once a year to check for fraud. 11. Monitor your credit accounts carefully, so you'll know if a bill's missing or unauthorized purchases have been made. Close out unused credit cards. Cutting them up is not enough. 12. Limit the number of credit cards you carry. The fewer cards you have, the easier it is to track them. Cancel unused credit card accounts. 13. Never give your credit card number or personal information over the phone unless you have initiated the call and trust that business. 14. Subscribe to a credit report monitoring service that will notify you whenever someone applies for credit in your name. 15. Be watchful of shoulder-surfers. At ATMs and phone booths, thieves will stand close enough to see PIN numbers punched in by users. 16. Mind those credit card receipts, especially since only a few credit card receipts have stopped listing full account numbers and expiration dates. Put the charge slip copies in a safe spot until your credit card bills arrive. 17. Write clearly on all credit applications. Consistently and completely fill in all credit and loan applications using your full name, first, middle and last. Every bill that comes to your house should be addressed exactly the same. 18. If you're moving, contact all your creditors and update them of your address changes immediately. You don't want credit information and new credit cards being delivered to the wrong address. Likewise, if your credit card expires and you don't receive a new one, call your creditor immediately. 19. Never carry your Social Security number and driver license together in your wallet. 20. NEVER provide your Social Security number, bank account number or credit card number to anyone who contacts you through telephone solicitation. 21. If you're shopping with an online merchant for the first time, look for the Trust-e symbol or a Better Business Bureau online seal. These indicate the seller has been independently audited and deemed trustworthy. 22. Make sure any online credit card charges are handled through a secure site or in an encrypted mode. You'll know you're on a secure site if the Web page on which you conduct your transaction begins with https instead of the usual http. 23. Only shop on Web sites that offer a privacy policy. Know how your personal information will be handled. Print out privacy policies, warranties, price guarantees and other important information.