Most Identity Theft can not be stopped. Once your EVIL TWIN has access to your personal data they are very hard to catch and it is even harder to clean up their mess. The short stories listed happen every day, try and eliminate as many as possible.

1. Identity Theft criminals only need basic information like a Social Security number to commit crimes. Around tax time criminals are busy filing bogus tax returns and collecting your tax refund. To add insult to injury the IRS is no help; as far as they are concerned they have sent the refund to you.

2. Violent gangs like the Crips, Bloods and MS-13 pay $5 to $10 to fast food restaurant employees to SWIPE your credit card number.

3. Child Identity Theft occurs when a family member or friend has access to private information that is abused and may not show up for years.

4. SMISHING is where you get a text-message from your BANK reporting: there is an error on your account at ABC Bank, you are directed to call a number, a message says to leave the last 4 digits of your social security number and your pin code. People do it everyday.

5. The lowly mail box that has not changed in hundreds of years is a rich source of data for experienced thieves to take advantage of.

6. The elderly are preyed on all the time when they are hospitalized or in a nursing home because every one from the doctor to the janitor has access to their records.

7. Nigerian Theft Scam starts when you get an e-mail requesting help and a great financial return.

8. ATM setup involves inserting a trap devise in machine and the next customer comes by and can't get his card out. The thief just happens to be in the area and offers assistance because the same problem happened to them, they then take the card when the frustrated customer leaves. By the way the thief does observe your pin code as he tries to help you.

9. Jury Duty Scam happens when you get a call from a local court claiming your failure to report will result in a warrant being issued for your arrest. For verification purposes they want your SS# and even ask for Credit Card numbers.

10. One area of extreme risk is your local FITNESS CENTER where your personal identification is secured by a flimsy lock. Gym-Rats are known for breaking in when no one is around and taking what ever they want and no one sees a thing; they know you have your wallet or purse in the locker.

11. Believe it or not, it is very common for a person with a little inside information about you and your real estate holding to go to the County Assessor's Office and file fraudulent GRANT DEEDS and change ownership of the property to themselves. With this they can get loans against the properties and disappear with the money.

12. Medical Identity Theft occurs when the criminal uses your health insurance to file either real or fraudulent claims. The Mafia likes this crime because of the incredible amounts of money involved.

13. Every time you make copies of private information on a Copy Machine at work or a copy center there is a copy saved on the machine's hard drive. The hard drives are seldom wiped clean and tech savvy criminals know where to find these used machines with your sensitive data.

14. Young people in particular put the most sensitive information imaginable on FACEBOOK that criminals can use against them.

15. Medicare Cards, that every person retired on Social Security has to keep with them on their medical visits, has their SS# printed on it, for all to see, is often times used by criminals.

16.Utility companies have a big problem with thieves calling customers and threatening to cut off their service if they don't make a modest payment with their credit card.

17.Free Reverse Cell Phone lookups are an easy way for criminals to go to the internet and get more information than you can believe about your private records even directions to your home.