Identity theft in its most sleek and simple form is credit card fraud.
That can be accomplished either online, or in many cases, offline, and it can take place in several ways, all of which you need to pay attention and watch for.


Every last one of us, from the best credit running to the worst credit, gets a lot of the preapproved credit card offers, where the credit card is actually sent to you, or the card is just offered and you need to phone in or respond in the mail.

All that anyone has to do to perpetrate identity theft, and to commit fraud with your credit card, is to mail that in, along with a change of address form, and start spending on your credit.

Until the credit card company insists that you pay the bill you’re not going to know that you were the victim of credit card fraud, unless you keep an eye on your credit report.
When you use your credit card number online, take a quick look at the URL window and make sure that it reads https:// etc etc, rather than simply http://… this will tell you that the site you are supplying your card number to is secure and that your card numbers can’t be read as you transfer them. (well at least that’s the theory)

Aside from taking your credit card numbers from an online system, such as a purchasing site, there are numerous other ways to gain that information and use it.

Think about all of the damage a person could do with your social security number and how many things you merely throw away that have that information on it.
If you toss out one single employment check stub you’ve just given someone the perfect means to steal from you.
Think about what it requires to get a car loan..  Your rate of pay, your social security number, your address and phone number and your bank account number if you get direct deposit.

Still think you’re a careful person?
Not only do you need to take care online, and to make sure that any site that you put your credit card number on has that httpS, rather than just http, you need to take a bit of extra care offline as well.

Protecting yourself against identity theft and credit card fraud isn’t just being careful when you’re online, but being careful offline too.