Steps to prevent Identity theft:

• Don't give your Social Security number over the phone unless it is absolutely necessary. It's also a good idea to be careful when providing your mother's maiden name, as this is often asked for to verify your identity by banks and other financial institutions.
• Put a lock on your mailbox and if you can not, empty it as soon as possible after the mail is delivered. Do not leave letters with personal information in the box for pickup by the mail carrier; drop them at the post office or in a U.S. Postal Service box.
• Check your credit report at the three national credit bureaus (see below for phone numbers) at least once a year to make sure there is no unauthorized activity.
• Buy a paper shredder and use it when you are disposing of old financial records, including tax returns, or unwanted credit card offers.
• Do not leave printed receipts behind at bank machines or gas pumps.
• Do not input credit card or other personal information on a Web site that is not secure. Secure Web sites should display a padlock symbol in the lower right corner of your Web browser.

Steps after becoming a victim:

• First, call all of the national credit bureaus and ask to have a "fraud alert" attached to your file. Equifax Credit Information Services - Consumer Fraud Div., P.O. Box 105496 Atlanta, Georgia 30348-5496-- Tel: (800) 525-6285 Experian P.O. Box 2104 Allen, Texas 75013-2104 Tel: (888) 397-3742 Trans Union Fraud Victim Assistance Dept. P.O. Box 390, Springfield, PA 19064-0390 -- Tel: (800) 680-7289
• Contact all creditors, by phone and in writing, to inform them of the problem.
• Call your local police department. If you suspect the mail was used, notify your local post office.
• Alert your bank so bank officials can contact you if there is any unusual activity. You might also request that your personal identification number, or PIN, be changed.
• Get in touch with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) identity theft hotline at 877-IDTheft.

The Department of Justice suggests living by the acronym SCAM:

S -- Be stingy about giving out your personal information to others unless you have a reason to trust them, regardless of where you are. Start by adopting a "need to know" approach to your personal data.

C -- Check your financial information regularly, and look for what should be there and what should not.

A -- Ask periodically for a copy of your credit report.

M -- Maintain careful records of your banking and financial accounts.