 TITLE: What You Can Do to Avoid Identity and Credit Fraud CONTENT: How Fraud Can Happen\n--------------------\nCredit fraud and identity theft can take many forms. The various types of fraud differ chiefly in what personal credentials are involved and the means by which that information is stolen.\nPersonal data routinely targeted by criminals includes:\n*   Social Security numbers\n*   Driver's licenses or other government-issued photo IDs\n*   Credit cards, debit cards and related account numbers\n*   Passwords to social media, e-commerce and banking accounts\nThe many ways criminals obtain personal data include (but are not limited to):\n*   **Phishing scams**: By means of email, phone calls, text or social media messaging, criminals present themselves as an authority you can trust and try to trick you into disclosing personal data. When in doubt, cease communication and reach out to the company or agency yourself. By responding to a suspicious message, clicking a link or opening a file, you might give an identity thief a way in.\n*   **Data breaches**: By hacking into commercial databases, criminals sometimes obtain troves of individuals' personal data in large batches, which they either use for their own purposes or sell to other criminals. If a vendor or financial institution alerts you that your data has been breached, consider a fraud alert or credit freeze. You can also sign up for a credit monitoring service that will alert you whenever there's new activity on your credit accounts.\n*   **Physical theft**: Stolen wallets and purses—and the credit cards and ID information they contain—can open up a world of opportunity for credit fraudsters. It's a good idea to keep an inventory of the items you carry routinely, and information on whom to contact if they're lost or stolen. END