Identity thieves obtain personally identifying information in myriad ways, such as stealing bank and credit card statements from mailboxes; using surveillance or eavesdropping in public places to obtain the victim's financial account numbers and passwords; searching through a victim's trash for discarded documents and mail; filing change of address forms to redirect a victim's mail to another location; using devices to record data from the magnetic strip on credit and debit cards; stealing personal information from a victim's place of business, doctor's office or school; purchasing the victim's identity information on the black market; using e-mail spamming and phishing; or, by accessing the files on a victim's computer.
The New York State Department of State Division of Consumer Protection urges consumers to keep their personally identifying information secure at all times to stave off victimization.
Things You Should Know About Your Social Security Number
Learn why and how to protect your Social Security number in the marketplace and at work
Record Retention
Learn about the appropriate timeframe to dispose of various types of documents and how to protect your personal information by disposing of documents safely
Tax Filing and Privacy Tips
Remember these important tips when preparing and filing tax returns
Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Tax Preparers (pdf)
Most tax preparers act within the law and treat their clients fairly. But there are some who don't. This brochure contains important information about how to protect yourself when you hire a tax preparer
Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Safety
Learn tips to use an ATM safely
Protect the Identity of a Deceased Loved One
Identity thieves sometimes use the personally identifying information of a deceased person to commit fraud. Reduce this risk by following the steps outlined in this resource
Protecting Your Child's Identity
Learn how to safeguard your child's personally identifying information
Protecting Yourself Online
Learn how to safeguard your personally identifying information while online