Identity thieves use a variety of ways to gain access to your personal information. Some of the most frequently used ways include:

• Stealing your wallet or purse.
• Using e-mail or phone scams, such as phishing or pretexting.
• Stealing a pre-approved credit card from your mailbox, to go on a shopping spree. To opt out of pre-screened credit card offers, call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688).
• They may have access to your information through where they work.
• They may steal credit and debit card information through a process known as skimming.
• Rummaging through your trash, in a practice known as dumpster diving.
• Complete a change of address form to divert your mail to another address.

• Open new credit card accounts in your name. Which they will use and never pay and that information will be recorded on your credit report.
• Use counterfeit checks or your credit or debit card to drain your bank account, cash transfers.
• Give your name to the police during an arrest. When they don't appear for court a warrant will be issued in your name.
• Charge or purchase items until there is no money left in your account(s).

• When setting a credit or debit card password don't use easily available information such as your birth date, last four digits of your phone number or social security number or a series of consecutive number (example 4567).
• Keep birth certificates, social security cards and financial information in a safe and secure area.
• Ask companies, that you give your personal information, who has access to the information, what information security measures they use, if they will share any of your information with anyone else and ask about their information disposal procedures.
• Don't give out personal information over the phone, the mail or the internet unless you initiated the contact.
• Deposit your outgoing mail in a post office collection box or at your local post office, rather than in an unsecured mailbox.
• If you are out of town, ask someone you trust to collect your mail or call the post office and have them hold your mail until you get back in town.
• Tear or shred all documents with personal or financial information before throwing them in the trash.
• If your wallet or purse is stolen, immediately contact your credit and debit card issuers and the Columbus Police, (706) 653-3000.
• When checking e-mail, never open e-mails from people you don't know. These e-mails could contain viruses that could lead to comprising the security of data on the computer.
• When disposing of a computer use a "wipe" program to completely remove all information from the computer. Manually deleting or formatting the computer will not erase all the information.
• Make online purchases rarely, and when making an online purchase look for indicators that the site is secure. Two indicators are the (lock) icon on the browser's status bar at the bottom of the screen and a URL address that begins with https: (the "s" stands for secure).

• Order a copy of your credit report, if new accounts have been opened they will be shown on this report. You can receive one free credit report per year by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com or calling 1-877-322-8228.
• Failing to receive bills or other mail.
• Denial of credit for no apparent reason.
• Receiving calls from debt collectors about merchandise you didn't purchase.

• Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your credit reports. To place a fraud alert on your credit report call one of the credit bureaus listed at the top of this page..
• Close all accounts you believe are fraudulent. Ask your financial institution about the process for disputing charges; also notify the companies where the fraudulent charges were made.
• File a report with the Columbus Police.
• File a complaint with the FTC. Contact the FTC by visiting www.consumer.gov/idtheft or call 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338).