The best way to fight identity crime is to safeguard your personal information. Be careful with your Social Security number and other personal information. Shred all financial documents before throwing them away, including credit card records and receipts, checks, unsolicited credit applications, credit reports and ATM receipts. Many thieves get their information from documents found in people's trash.
Mail theft is common.
Never mail checks from your home mailbox. When new credit cards or previous ones expired, watch the calendar to make sure that you get the card within the appropriate time. Inquire immediately of creditors when anticipated bills or statements fail to arrive in the mail. Thieves have been known to divert mail for a few weeks through a forwarding notice to steal information from your bills. Do not use your mother's maiden name as a password on your accounts.