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Step 1
Identity theft occurs when someone obtains your personal information and uses it to obtain credit, leases, and many other forms of fraud. This can ruin your credit, as well as your finances. To avoid online identity theft, there are many steps you can take, starting with never giving out your social security or credit card numbers unless you are 100% positive that you are dealing with a legitimate company.
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Step 2
Don't open links in unsolicited emails. These links could contain programs that allow potential thieves access to information on your home computer.
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Step 3
Make sure you have anti-virus and anti-spyware programs installed on your computer. Also, keep your versions current.
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Step 4
There are now special programs available to protect your identity and personal information when you're online. They protect you in many ways to keep your information private. See the links below, under the Resources Heading for more information on these protection programs.
