Documentation sent to you by post contains a myriad of personal information which can be intercepted by fraudsters for criminal gain. Mail delivered to communal areas, such as the case in many flat complexes’, is particularly at risk.

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Identity criminals can redirect all of your mail to a different address using the Royal Mail Redirection Service, gaining access to much of your personal information. This can be done online or in person at a Post Office using documentation that can be easily forged with home PC technology.

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Documentation you throw away on a regular basis contains information which would enable a fraudster to start the misappropriation of your identity. Refuse Diving is when a fraudster goes through your discarded rubbish in an attempt to acquire your personal information.

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Phishing is the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. The word is derived from “fishing,” because the contact is designed as bait. Phishing is typically carried out by e-mail or instant messaging and it often directs users to enter details at a fake website whose look and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one. If you enter your details onto such a site, your security is immediately compromised.

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A combination of the words “voice” and “phishing,” vishing is like phishing, except the thieves use the phone instead of email. They may leave a message pretending to be your bank or some other company. When you call back, they'll attempt to obtain your personal information.

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Spyware is computer software that is installed surreptitiously on a personal computer to intercept or take partial control of the user’s interaction with the computer, without the user’s informed consent.

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Skimming is the theft of credit card information used in an otherwise legitimate transaction. It is typically an "inside job" by a dishonest employee of a legitimate merchant. The thief can procure a victim’s credit card number using basic methods such as photocopying receipts or more advanced methods such as using a small electronic device (skimmer) to swipe and store hundreds of victim’s credit card numbers. Common scenarios for skimming are restaurants or bars where the skimmer has possession of the victim's credit card out of their immediate view. The thief may also use a small keypad to unobtrusively transcribe the 3 or 4 digit Card Security Code which is not present on the magnetic strip.

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Trusted businesses, like your employer, your local bank, and other organizations have a great deal of your personal information stored on their computers. Thieves can gain access to this information by hacking into the network or by posing as a business partner. Another example of Corporate Data Breach is when a computer, media storage device or box of files containing personal information is lost in transit or simply misplaced by an employee.

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Identity thieves are using social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace® to find out your personal information. They can then use the information they find on the site to pretend to be someone they're not or even coax other information out of you.

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Burglary (also called breaking and entering) is a crime the essence of which is entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offence. Usually that offence will be theft, which can often include personal documentation providing the criminal with everything they need to start the misappropriation of your identity.

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Robbery is the crime of seizing property through violence or intimidation. Criminals can target individuals for the sole intent of obtaining their personal documentation or to gain access to their existing bank and credit card details.

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