Identity theft rates one of the fastest growing crimes in
America today and the Internet can make it even easier for
some criminals to take your good name and drag it through
the mud.

Identity theft involves criminals stealing your personal
information such as credit card numbers, social security
numbers and other information, usually to buy things on
credit or to empty out your bank accounts.

Through your financial liability with your credit cards may
be limited to $50 to $500, it can take years for you to
clean up the mess online identity thieves leave behind.

As with any crime, an ounce of prevention may just cause the
would-be identity thieves to leave you alone and move on to
an easier target.

The following tips can help you avoid having your identity
stolen.

1. Never give out your social security number, online or
otherwise. No company you buy things from needs your social
security number.

If you do business on the web, obtain a a Federal Tax ID
number to use instead of your social security number.

Once criminals have your social security number, along with
your birth date and address, they have virtually everything
they need to start wreaking havoc in your life.

2. Use a good anti-virus program. One of the ways criminals
get your credit card numbers, passwords and other sensitive
information is through "Trojan horse" viruses that log your
keystrokes and transmit information to the evil doers.

The "Bad Trans" virus that has caused so much havoc is just
such a virus.

3. Always use a "secure" server when transmitting credit
card information over the web and know something about the
company before handing over your information.

You can feel pretty confident that you are using a secure
server if a little lock displays in the status bar on the
bottom of your web browser.

4. A popular new way to pay for goods and services online is
to "use your checking account just like a credit card".

Be extremely cautious about paying this way through the web.
By giving a company your checking account numbers you give
away much of the information necessary to empty your bank
account!

5. Never give out information such as your birthday, marital
status, education level or other personal information.

This additional information makes it extremely easy for
criminals to make themselves appear legitimate when they
pose as you. Websites should ultimately only require you to
provide your name, email and billing information for a
purchase.

You should avoid any site requiring more information than
that.

These criminals prey on people's ignorance and you can
usually defeat them simply by making it too hard for them to
get your information.

If you do find yourself a victim, immediately contact police
and get legal help. Do not wait because you feel embarrassed
or "stupid" over what happened.

Waiting only lets the trail grow cold and limits how much
law enforcement can do to help you.