They steal wallets and purses containing your identification and credit and bank cards.

They steal your mail, including your bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, new checks, and tax information.

They complete a "change of address from" to divert your mail to another location.

They rummage through your trash, or the trash of businesses, for personal data in a practice known as "dumpster diving."

They fraudulently obtain your credit report by posing as a landlord, employer or someone else who may have a legitimate need for, and legal right to, the information.

The find personal information in your home.

They use personal information you share on the internet.

They scam you, often through email, by posing as legitimate companies or government agencies you do business with.

They get your information from the workplace in a practice know as "business record theft" by: stealing files out of offices where your're a customer, employee, patient or student; bribing an employee who has access to your files; or "hacking" into electronic files.