Questions From an Identity Theft Victim Identity theft is a crime in which the imposter obtains key pieces of information such as Social Security and driver's license numbers to obtain credit, merchandise and services in the name of the victim. The victim is left with a ruined credit history and the time-consuming and complicated task of regaining financial health. Malicious people may be able to obtain personal information (such as credit card numbers, phone numbers, account numbers, and addresses) by stealing your wallet, overhearing a phone conversation, rummaging through your trash (a practice known as dumpster diving), or picking up a receipt at a restaurant that has your account number on it. Yes they may deny you their services if you don't comply but there's no reason for you to choose establishments that force you to compromise your security and cause you to be vulnerable to identity theft. Your best protection against identity theft is caution and knowledge. Know your rights. Know the rules and regulations that are out there that should protect you and keep abreast of the dos and don'ts of giving away sensitive information like your social security number. Other identity numbers, such as specialized ATM s, Credit Cards, Master Cards, issued for high end use, and benefits with high potential credibility, are approved and released on strict and stiff screening process that allow the individual, to use on international travel and expense abroad, instead of carrying cash bulk, or money transfers that entail more time and effort. Keep a list or photocopy of all credit accounts, along with expiration dates and phone numbers to call in case of theft. Keep this list in a secure spot at home. When you purchase items with credit, always take your credit card receipts with you. Never toss them in a waste basket. Do not have boxes of new checks delivered to your home. (Some credit card companies, when sending credit cards, have adopted security measures that allow a card recipient to activate the card only from his or her home telephone number but this is not yet a universal practice.) Also, if your mail is delivered to a place where others have ready access to it, criminals can just intercept and redirect your mail to another location so that they will receive them.