Intent on taking a free ride on  the good name  and reputation of  others, identity  thieves obtain  personal information and then essentially impersonate their victims  as they open credit-card accounts,  make purchases, or take out loans.  While there is no way to have complete protection against identity  theft, these common-sense measures can decrease the odds of becoming a victim:

• Jealously guard personal information like your Social Security number and account numbers and passwords, divulging  it only in a communication that  you initiate.
• Keep your wallet from becoming a gold mine for potential  thieves by carrying the minimum in checks, credit cards, or  other bank items, and do not  keep your Social Security number there.
• Retrieve your mail promptly  and do not leave outgoing mail  in your doorway or home mailbox.
• Tear up private papers like bank  statements, receipts, and credit-card applications before throwing them away.
• Store valuable financial information at home in a place that is  not available to prying eyes.
• Review bank account and  credit-card records regularly, as  well as your own credit report  prepared by a credit bureau, so  that you can pick up the first  signs of trouble, such as a missing payment or an unauthorized  withdrawal.