Keep a list or photocopy of all credit accounts, along with expiration dates and phone numbers to call in case of theft. Keep this list in a secure spot at home. When you purchase items with credit, always take your credit card receipts with you. Never toss them in a waste basket. Do not have boxes of new checks delivered to your home. True prevention resides in two arenas the adoption of more effective application-screening procedures by the credit industry and the implementation of responsible information-handling practices by employers. This article focuses on the latter. Experts in identity theft report that an increasing number of cases can be attributed to the fact that some employees in companies use their connection and their position to obtain sensitive personal information of other employees, customers and even contacts and use them for illegal means. While the victim and his wife spent more than four years and more than $15,000 of their own money to restore their credit and reputation, the criminal served a brief sentence for making a false statement to procure a firearm, but made no restitution to his victim for any of the harm he had caused. How do thieves get my information? How to Evade Being a Victim to Identity Number Social Theft Never disclose your personal address and telephone directory that easy to anybody, unless you fully trust a person, or, he s proven to have displayed the best of character, habits, and attitude for a number of years in your lengthy work, and friendly experiences together. Seems tedious yes but if your wallet is stolen, all your valuable numbers are left vulnerable to unscrupulous thieves who can compromise your identity. A much simpler way of protecting yourself against identity theft through your social security number is by simply being careful when giving it away. Remember that mostly, only government agencies have the right to ask for your social security number. Now imagine this-you are hounded by credit collectors for purchases you have not made, or worse-you are wrongfully apprehended for a crime you most certainly did not commit. How did this happen? 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.