Up to 500,000 individuals are victims each year of identity theft. 

Three of the most common methods thieves use to steal your identity: Phishing, Spoofing, Pharming

Phishing
Phishing is the use of fraudulent emails to direct customers to fraudulent web sites that resemble legitimate bank sites.

"Phishing" pronounced "Fishing" is exactly that. Crooks are trying to steal your identity, passwords, and money by fishing. The lure (bait) can come in many forms. The most popular method of "phishing" is to send out emails claiming to be from a bank or financial institution and with a link and a fake reason why you need to access your account.

These emails can appear to be legitimate because the crook will steal the graphics from the bank or financial institution they are targeting. The links can also appear to be legitimate by embedding the .html into a email and using mouseover javascripts to display a false web address.

These thieves may even provide a 1-800 number to call. (If you receive a suspicious email, contact your bank directly).

Spoofing
Spoofing involves the generation of the fraudulent web sites, designed to mirror the legitimate site. 

Pharming
Pharming redirects every web-surfer legitimately trying to reach a compromised site to a fraudulent, "spoofed" web site.
 

Tips to avoid becoming a victim | Phishing Examples | Report Suspicious Emails| Additional Help  
While there is no 100% guarantee that anyone is 100% safe from becoming a victim of identity theft, there are several things you can do. 
 

Get LifeLock ! Identity Theft Services. LifeLock goes far beyond Credit Monitoring on your behalf. LifeLock provides a proactive identity theft service, specializing in the prevention of identity theft rather than the reporting of it.