Do these simple things NOW:

• NEVER, EVER write a password or PIN down or keep it in your wallet!

• Do not carry your Social Security card, birth certificate or passport in your wallet or purse.

• Do not put your name, address, phone number, or e-mail on your key chain.

• Empty your wallet onto a photocopier and copy everything in your wallet.

Quit publishing your personal data:

• Never give out your credit card number or other personal information over the phone unless you have a trusted business relationship with the company and you have initiated the call.

• Get an unlisted phone number (one that is not published OR listed).

• Rent a post office box, and fill in a postal Change of Address form, changing your address to the P.O. box.

• Have caller ID per-line blocking (complete blocking) turned on your telephone line.

• Avoid calling unknown 800 or 900 numbers -- they get your telephone number (even when you have caller ID blocking on).

• Put your post office box on your driver's license.

• Don't put your name on the list of tenants on the front of your apartment building.

• Remove your name from the marketing lists of the three credit reporting bureaus -- Equifax, Experian (formerly TRW) and Trans Union.

  Equifax Options Telephone: (800) 219-1251 Marketing Decision Systems, P.O. Box 740123, Atlanta, GA 30374-0123

  Experian (formerly TRW) Telephone: (800) 353-0809 Mail Preference Service, 701 TRW Parkway, Allen, TX 75002

  Trans Union Telephone: (800) 680-7293 555 West Adams St., 8th Floor, Chicago, IL 60661

• Have your name and address removed from the phone book and reverse directories.

  Haines & Co., CrissCross Directory, 2382 East Walnut Ave., Fullerton, CA 92631. (800) 562-8262

  R. L. Polk & Co., List Compilation, 6400 Monroe Blvd., Taylor, MI 481801814. (313) 292-3200

  Rueben H. Donnelley Corp., 287 Bowman Ave., Purchase, NY 10577. (914) 933-6400

• Reduce the number of credit cards you actively use to a bare minimum. Cancel all unused accounts.

• Always take credit card receipts with you. Never toss them in a public trash container.

• When you pay bills, do not leave the envelopes containing your checks at your mailbox for the postal carrier to pick up.

• Do not have your SSN printed on your checks. Don't let merchants hand-write it onto your checks because of the risk of fraud.

• Never permit your credit card number to be written onto your checks.

• When you buy a product, don't fill out the product registration card.

• Don't participate in the grocery store's "buyers club." You may also want to pay cash at businesses which use scanners, since technology may allow the company to store your name and address if you pay by check or credit card.

• Don't enter sweepstakes and other contests.

• Beware when you join or donate money to clubs, organizations or charities.

• Beware when you subscribe to magazines, book clubs and music/CD clubs.

• Do not use your home address when you subscribe to magazines. In general, don't use your residential address for anything that is mailed or shipped to you.

• Avoid using your middle initial.

• Ask your financial institutions to add extra security protection to your account. Most will allow you to use an additional code (a number or word) when accessing your account. Do not use your mother's maiden name, as that is all too easily obtained by identity thieves.

• Shield your hand when using a bank ATM machine or making long distance phone calls with your phone card. "Shoulder surfers" may be nearby with binoculars or video camera.

• Protect your Social Security number (SSN). Release it only when absolutely necessary (like tax forms, employment records, most banking, stock and property transactions). The SSN is the key to your credit and banking accounts and is the prime target of criminals.

• Remove yourself from the P-Trak database.

  P-Trak Lexis-Nexis P.O. Box 933 Dayton, OH 45401-0933. Web: www.lexis-nexis.com E-mail: p-trak@prod.lexis-nexis.com Fax: (800) 470-4365

• Remove your entries from the Internet search databases, including: Bigfoot, DejaNews, Excite, Four11, IAF, Infoseek, LookupUSA, Switchboard, and WhoWhere?

• If you are an America Online subscriber, don't create a member profile. If you have one, delete it immediately. Select Member Directory from the Members menu, and then double-click "Delete your Profile".

Watch for fraud:

• Order your credit report once a year from each of the three credit bureaus to check for inaccuracies and fraudulent use of your accounts.

  Experian (formerly TRW) (free report once per year) (800) 682-7654

  Equifax ($8) (800) 685-1111

  Trans Union ($8) (800) 851-2674

• Watch the mail when you expect a new or reissued credit card to arrive. Contact the issuer if the card does not arrive.

• Carefully review your credit card statements and phone bills, including cellular phone bills, for unauthorized use.

• Order Social Security Earnings and Benefits Statement at least once every three years -- every year if you're a victim of SSN fraud. Call (800) 772-1213.

Reducing junk mail:

• Follow the personal info. guidelines above.

• Envelopes with "Address Correction Requested" or "Return Postage Guaranteed" can be returned unopened by writing "Return to Sender -- Refused" on the envelope. The company will have to pay the return postage.

• Sign up for the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service and the Telephone Preference Service

  DMA, Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008

  DMA, Tele Preference Service, P.O. Box 9014, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014

• Call or write to major companies that sell mailing lists:

  R.L. Polk & Co., List Compilation, 6400 Monroe Blvd., Taylor, MI 481801814. (313) 292-3200.

  Donnelley Marketing, Inc., Data Base Operations, 1235 "N" Ave., Nevada, IA 50201. (800) 323-3685.

  Metromail Corp., List Maintenance, 901 West Bond, Lincoln, NE 68521. (800) 426-8901.

  Database America, Compilation Dept., 100 Paragon Dr., Montvale, NJ 07645-0419. (201) 476-2000.