Best estimates are 9 million identities are stolen annually:
- Guard your PIN numbers
- Do not provide personal or credit card information over the telephone unless "you initiated the call."
- Do not write your Social Security number on a check, except when you make a payment to the IRS.
- Destroy or shred pre - approved credit card offers, receipt(s) from ATM(s) and any information linking your name to an account number.
- Do not ever respond to any unsolicited e-mail or telephone call that requests personal information, not even from a U.S. Court.
- Immediately cancel any lost credit cards.
- Destroy or shred expired credit cards.
- Do not write your PIN number on a check.
- Report a missing driver's license as soon as possible to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
- Where possible, reduce the number of identification cards you carry.
- Never leave your purse in the car. Thieves watch parking lots to see women parking their cars and walking away without a purse.
