Con Man Greed--Deflect the Con Man Attack; Here's the First Means

--How to Deter the Con Man, Keep Him out of your Pocket

Respect for Farber's First Law comes right up front: Give him an inch and he will screw you.

Anything free is worth what you pay for it. This, too, is an axiom which should describe your cautious approach, in defense of your identity from theft.

How to deter? Here are 7 simple guard rails to erect which will enable you to successfully deter the con man:

1) Shred all financial documents and paperwork with personal information before discarding. If you don't own a shredder, hone your skills with a scissors. The identity you save might be your own.

2) There was a time when you were urged to carry your social security card with you--for the convenience of instant use, "anywhere and everywhere." No more. Now, identity theft is such a widespread and serious crime that you are advised to do just the opposite: Do not--repeat, not--carry your SS card with you. and, it is strongly suggested that you give out your number only when absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier.
Some will say, those who refuse to understand the need for this extreme caution in this current atmosphere of high risk, are missing a few buttons on their remote control.

3) Do not write your social security number on a check. Be very wary of those who ask you to do this. People who say, I don't play games, are playing games.

4) Do not give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the internet, unless you know with whom you are dealing. Follow the Law of Local Anesthesia: Never say, "Oops," in the operating room..

5) Never click on links in unsolicited emails.
Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer. Visit OnGuardOnline.gov for more information. Malicious spyware is everywhere these days, deftly employed by the con man. You don't want to have to look in the mirror and ask: How did a fool and his money get together in the first place?

6) Do not use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother's maiden name, or the last 4 digits of your SS number. A clean tie attracts the soup of the day.

7) Keep all of your personal information in a secure place at home. This is especially important if you employ outside help, are having work done in your house, have roommates, or frequently entertain freeloading guests.

How can you tell when you run out of invisible ink? O.K. It's difficult But, pushing an elevator button twice is not going to make the receptacle come any sooner either.

Only answer is to be beware, cautious, defensive, and guard your identity as you would your virginity from a mad rapist.