Identity theft is a big issue online.  Not only can it hurt your financially, but emotionally as well.  I want to first describe how identitiy theft works.  A snipit from an article I read at howstuffworks.com/identity theft, it states, "Credit card fraud is identity theft in its most simple and common form. It can be accomplished either through a scenario like the one we just mentioned, or it can happen when your pre-approved credit card offers fall into the wrong hands. All a person has to do is get these out of your mailbox (or trash can) and mail them in with a change of address request and start spending. Someone can even apply for a credit card in your name if they have the right information."  (Obringer, 2).  It goes on to say..."

With a person's name, social security number and date of birth, someone can get loans, access the person's existing bank accounts, open new bank accounts, lease or buy cars, get insurance, you name it. Think about the things you throw in the trash. Do you throw your pay stubs away once you've recorded the amount in your checkbook? Take a look at some of the information on that seemingly unimportant piece of paper: Your full name Your address Your social security number Your complete bank account number (if you have direct deposit) Your employer and its address Your rate of pay

This is all the information someone would need to steal your identity and max out your credit cards, get loans, etc.  Someone with just this little bit of information can really wipe you out.  I've known someone who had there credit card stolen at work, the person who stole it knew the persons, name, address, social security number, rate of pay, and employers address.  With this information alone the person opened up 2 credit cards in there name and took out over $4000 in cash advances and bought things with it.  The person was never caught because they left the company right after this and skipped town.  It took over 3 years for this person to get there credit back in line and that was on the quick end.  It takes some people twice as long to get there credit back on track.