Thieves are getting more and more crafty by the day. Keep an eye out! Here are some ways they are able to steal your identity.

1. Watch your back

In line at the grocery store, some thieves hold their  smartphone like they are looking at the screen and take a photograph of your credit card as you’re using it. Next thing you know  they can order  things online  with your account.

2. Watch your bank account

Check your bank and credit card balances  at least once a week. Identity thieves  can do a lot of damage in the 30 days between monthly statements.  

3. Check out ATMs before you use them

If you see something that looks like it doesn’t belong on the ATM  or sticks out from the card slot, walk away. Thieves can make and install a ‘skimmer’ that can be used  to capture your ATM  card information and PIN.

4. Don’t use unsecured Wi-Fi

Sure, it may be nice not to have to put in your password  when you use an unsecured Wi-Fi connection, but thieves have software that can scoop up all the data your computer transmits, including your passwords and other sensitive information.

5. Tear up important documents before you throw them away

Thieves will  drive  through your neighbourhood at 3 a.m. on garbage day in order to  fill their  boot  with bags of garbage from different houses, and then sort through it later looking for important information.

Written by Michelle Crouch. This article first appeared in Reader’s Digest. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, here’s our best subscription offer.