Identity and personal information theft have been on the rise. The FBI has been reporting that it is the number one crime now committed on the Internet, and is costing individuals and businesses millions of dollars, lost opportunity and their reputations.  According to the U.S. Postal Service, there were almost ten million incidents of identity theft in the United States in 2004, a huge figure dwarfed only by its cost to consumers—$5 billion. 

Limiting your use of your personal computer may not help much: a study released in January 2005 by the Better Business Bureau and Javelin Strategy and Research reported that most identity thefts take place offline, not online—just the opposite of what many folks might think. In fact, the study found, the theft of online information accounted for only 11.6 percent of identity fraud cases.  There are numerous high-tech off-line methods used to steal personal identities. They range from breaking into business web sites to steal databases containing personal information to using Malware (viruses, Trojans, worms, etc.).

In guarding your on-line computer use, one of the more commons methods for on-line stealing of personal information, of late, is the use of credible-looking SPAM, called Phishing. These criminals are sending e-mails to potential victims which look like they're from customer service or accounting departments at various companies you may be doing business with.  They then exploit any information you may give them. 

What to Do

Here's a partial list of the things everyone should do:

• Get good anti-SPAM defenses.
• Never give personal information to anyone or any site you haven't gone to on purpose.
• Don't give out personal information to someone who calls you.
• If a vendor claims they need to verify your personal information, re-initiate the call or internet connection using a known valid phone number or email address. 
• Don't become a victim of these modern day criminals. Be prudent and possessive with all of your personal information. Remember that most of the techniques these criminals use are just modern day versions of age old things your mother taught you about dealing with strangers.