| One of the most audacious modern impostors was | | | | |
| Frank W. Abagnale. If you have seen the film Catch | | | | 1. Keep your Social Security or Tax Identification |
| Me If You Can, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom | | | | Number under wraps. It is the main target of criminals |
| Hanks, then you have seen the movie version of his | | | | and the keep to credit reporting bureaus and opening |
| early life. He was born in Bronxville, New York, and | | | | phony bank accounts. |
| began his life as a criminal by running up charges on his | | | | 2. Shred all old bank account and credit card |
| father's credit card. At the age of 16, he ran away | | | | statements, and junk mail offers. |
| from home and began impersonating an airline pilot. By | | | | 3. Add your name to the name-deletion lists of the |
| doing extensive research at the public library, and | | | | Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service |
| asking a local pilot a few questions under the guise of | | | | and the Telephone Preference Service, which are |
| a reporter for his high school's newspaper, Abagnale | | | | used by banks and others. |
| was able to gather the necessary information to forge | | | | 4. Be wary of free offer sign-ups online. Once your |
| the documents needed to appear a full-fledged airline | | | | information is out there, you can never get it back. |
| pilot. | | | | 5. Order your Social Security Earnings and Benefits |
| After living lives as a doctor, a lawyer, and everything | | | | Statement regularly to check for fraud. This often |
| in between Abagnale was eventually arrested and | | | | comes automatically once a year around your birthday, |
| served 14 years in prison in France, Sweden, and the | | | | so keep watch for it and check that the yearly earning |
| United States. Now he has dedicated his life to | | | | figures look correct. |
| preventing forgery and works for the US Government. | | | | 6. Photocopy all-important items in your wallet, both |
| Not all lives of crime end in a full recovery, and identity | | | | sides, so you have the numbers and contact |
| theft is not always a means to an end for a young | | | | information in case your purse or wallet is stolen. |
| man with big dreams. In this information age, it is easier | | | | Using these helpful tips can minimize your risk of credit |
| than ever for someone to steal your social security | | | | card fraud and identity theft. A little common sense will |
| number; or illegally obtain your personal information. | | | | not hurt either. Use money handling and credit reporting |
| How can you avoid it when it seems so simple? Here | | | | services you trust, and keep your sensitive information |
| are six simple tips to follow: | | | | close at hand. |