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- Don't give out personal information. Be suspicious of anyone you don't know who asks for your Social Security number, credit card and bank account details, date of birth, etc.
- Don't be intimidated. Be suspicious of calls or e-mails that want you to provide or verify personal information immediately. Tell them you're not interested and hang up or don't reply to the e-mail.
- Monitor your accounts. Review bank and credit card statements carefully. Report unauthorized transactions to your financial institution immediately.
- Use a shredder. Tear or shred credit offers you receive in the mail, bank statements, insurance forms and other papers with vital information. In addition to these general guidelines there is a really good list and explanation of many fraudulent practices currently in use at USA.gov here. The trend is clear: As more of our devices communicate with each other there will be more fraud, not less. But it is partly because we are not careful enough. If you get an email from Nigeria about an offer too good to refuse, refuse to open it!