Thieves can steal your identity by:
Dumpster diving – Retrieving from the trash, credit card receipts, credit card offers, bank deposit slips or personal information.
Skimming – Stealing credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
Phishing – Pretending to be banks or companies and asking for personal or account information.
Changing your address – Diverting your billing statements to another location by completing a change of address form.
Old-fashioned stealing – Picking your wallet or purse. Robbing your mail of bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, new checks or tax information. Stealing personnel information or bribing employees with access.
Pretexting – Using false pretenses to obtain your personal information from financial institutions.
Shoulder surfing – Obtaining credit card number information as they stand nearby and you conduct a financial transaction over the phone or at an ATM.