Always be aware of your credit reports and see to it that you are aware of anything out of the ordinary that may come up on your credit records such as purchases that you haven t made yourself. Try to report any discrepancies immediately to the authorities. You can even have your account temporarily blocked in order to prevent further losses. To avoid this, verify about the message by using landlines that you think is legitimate. Or, answer by using another Internet browser. Never cut and paste any link from the message into your browser. Most of the time, extending links are likely anomalous, or shifting to websites with highly extensive porn settings. Your personal information and sensitive numbers were never physically separated from you. Unfortunately, carelessly giving away your social security number or other sensitive information may put you at risk for identity theft. A database with all your information may be sold to another entity that may use your data to make purchases in your stead without you knowing. Frank got weak in the knees and really dizzy when she heard the shocking, almost surreal news. After which she got mad as heel, and decided then and there that she would fight against these kinds of crimes if only to avenge what happened to her. Most guides on preventing identity theft focus on steps consumers can take, such as shredding their trash and protecting their SSN. If you leave your mails at home or in the office, anyone can steal it and may be able to get personal information from it through your credit records, bank and other bill statements. No one can be immune to being an identity theft victim. In the world that we live in today and the convenience that we give out our personal information, it only makes us unlikely victims to identity thieves. It is a dual crime because not only is it committed against an individual's financial life and credit history but also against his or her reputation and social standing in the community and in the workplace. In one notorious case of identity theft, a convicted felon have not only incurred thousands of credit card debt by using another person's identity, he was also able to obtain a federal home loan, and even bought homes, motorcycles, and handguns using the victim's name.