Watch for people who may try to eavesdrop and overhear the information you give out orally. Carefully destroy the documents that you throw out, especially those with sensitive or identifying information. A crosscut paper shredder works best. Be suspicious of telephone solicitors that call you at your office. As much as possible, don't carry documents with you with sensitive information like your social security number in your wallet. Find some other safe place to put it. Seems tedious yes but if your wallet is stolen, all your valuable numbers are left vulnerable to unscrupulous thieves who can compromise your identity. When using these credit cards and foot the bill in your name, such delinquencies will be reported on your credit report. This will make it harder for you to upgrade or make effective use of your own credit account because of your worsening credit record without you even knowing it. It can even go as far as using your name to the police during an arrest. " By one industry estimate, more than 1,000 people a day in the United States fall victim to crimes of stolen identity. In 1997 the U.S. Secret Service make 9,455 arrests involving identify fraud. According to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse there are over 400,000 thefts of identity each year with that result in more than $2 Billion worth of annual losses for the country. Even keeping your Social Security number on your wallet can make you a victim of identity theft once your wallet is stolen. If you leave your mails at home or in the office, anyone can steal it and may be able to get personal information from it through your credit records, bank and other bill statements. Report identity theft to the FTC Even though the police station would be the first people you will think of when asking for help or when reporting an identity theft, do not place much hope that the police will get very far in investigating your case. Identity theft cases rarely end in arrests because the guilty party can too easily cover his or her tracks.