The rising popularity of credit cards and the Internet has led to a rise in Identity Theft. This section provides suggestions and strategies on how to minimize the chances of fraud happening to you on- or offline, as well as what to do should you become a victim.

• Be very careful about to whom you give out personal identification information, such as your mother's maiden name and your Social Security Number. Ask if it can be kept confidential. Inquire into how it will be used and with whom it will be shared.

• Never provide any personal, bank account or credit card information to anyone who contacts you through a telephone solicitation. Instead, it is advisable to demand they mail you information so that you can further research the company and their products and services.

• Keep items with personal information in a safe place. Keep a list of all credit cards, account numbers, expiration dates, and the customer service phone numbers in a secure place so that you can quickly contact your creditors in case your cards are lost or stolen.

• Tear Up or Destroy all ATM and bank receipts, old insurance forms, bank checks, expired credit cards, and any other papers that include personal information, identification, and account numbers about you. This includes pre-approved credit card solicitations! Thieves oftentimes search through your garbage to find these forms and information and use it to apply for credit in your name.

• Minimize the number of credit cards and other items with personal information printed on them that you carry. Cancel all inactive accounts. Even though you do not use them, those accounts appear on your credit report, which can be used by thieves.

• Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks.

• Be wary of promotional scams. Identity thieves may use phony offers to get you to give them your personal information.

• Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help or are having service work done in your home.

• Ask about information security procedures in your workplace. Find out who has access to your personal information and verify that records are kept in a secure location. Ask about the disposal procedures for those records as well.