Identity thieves are constantly exploring new and inventive methods for defrauding consumers. To minimize your chances of being targeted, you might want to consider following these basic guidelines:

• Refuse any "prize" or sweepstakes "win" requiring advance purchase

• If you want a payment card, deal directly with a financial institution. There's no reason to pay a third party. If you have problems with your credit history, many issuers offer secure cards where the credit limit is equal to a customer deposit.

• No one can magically erase a bad credit report. Legitimate negative information can stay on your report for up to seven years

• Never dial unfamiliar "900" or international numbers you don't know. You could wind up with a huge phone bills

• Don't answer "yes" to prompts on telephone calls unless you are familiar with the company

• Firmly say "NO" If you are not interested in a telemarketing offer, then hang up

• Resist the pressure to "buy now". Take your time to think about the offer.

• Scam Operators depend on the embarrassment and the silence of victims to stay in business. If you are the victim of a scam - or think someone has tried scamming you - Take Action

• Report any suspicious activity to the office of your state attorney's general. You can find the local office in the 'blue pages' of your phone book or by going online to the National Association of Attorneys General.

• Older family members or friends can sometimes be more vulnerable to scams. Help protect them against fraud and help them to report any fraudulent activity

• Visit the Federal Trade Commission website to learn more about protecting yourself from scams. To stay up to date on the latest schemes and scams, visit the National Fraud Information Center website.