1. Avoid carrying all credit cards, Social Security card, birth certificate, or passport except when necessary. Cary only those cards or identification you'll need.

2. Reduce the number of active credit cards. Cancel all unused cards.

3. Memorize your PIN. Don't give it to family or friends. When creating a new PIN, don't use the last four digits of your Social Scurity number, your birth date, middle name, nickname, pet's name, or consecutive numbers. Change your current PIN if it contains this information.

4. Don't give your Social Security number to companies over the phone or to store cashiers. Don't have your Social Security number on your driver's license or have it printed on your checks.

5. Don't give out your credit card number or other personal information over the phone unless you initiate the call.

6. Review monthly statements carefully and request a credit report on a regular basis.

7. Keep a copy of credit card reciepts and verify them against your statement. Don't leave them in the bag with purchases and don't descard them in a public wastebasket.

8. Shred all old statements for discarding.

9. Some creditors call if they notice unusual activity on your account. If you receive a call from someone saying they're your creditor, only verify information supplied to you. Don't give information to them about your account without hanging up and contacting them at the number supplied on your statement.

10. Pick up new share drafts at the credit union instead of having them mailed. Watch the mail for an anticipated new or reissued credit card, and report it if the card isn't received as expected.

11. Mail bills from a public mailbox.

12. Don't post personal information on a Web Site.

1. Keep a log of all contacts.

2. File a police report immediately.

3. Report the crime to the credit union. Complete an affidavit of forgery. Get new account numbers for your share draft and credit card account, and get a password for all transactions. Request a new automated teller machine/debit card and a new PIN.

4. Call credit card issuers and get replacement cards with new account numbers. Ask the issuer to report "account close at consumer's request" instead of "lost/stolen" to credit bureaus.

5. Call all three credit bureaus to report the crime and ask for your account to be flagged.

6. Report stolen share draft to TeleCheck.

7. Notify utilities in case new service is requested in your name. Ask local and long-distance telephone companies to issue new numbers and phone cards.

8. Get a new driver's license.

9. Begin removing fraudulent charges from your credit report. Be persistent and keep notes of all conversations ( names, dates, and times).

10. Don't pay any frandulent charges. Once you report the fraudulent activity, no financial institutions should require payments on those items.

11. Check with local victims rights groups for support.