Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America. It can
occur when a criminal steals personal identifying information such as
name, birth date, Social Security number or your mother's maiden name
and uses it for their own gain. These thefts can occur through lost or
stolen credit or debit cards, non-secure online transactions, personal
information recovered from your garbage, and most frequently, stolen
mail from your mailbox.
It's important to memorize your social security number - don't carry your card with you.