There are folks out there who use their powers for evil, not good. Lets not give them the opportunity to sneak into our lives and wreak havoc. Submitted for your reading pleasure are some of my tips to protect yourself and your identity.

Gone Phishin'

When I was a wee lass, my Grandpa George would take me to the pond on a warm Saturday afternoon and wed fish for hours. Unfortunately, this type of Phishing has nothing to do with warm fuzzy memories of my Grandfather.

Phishing (sounds just like fishing) usually arrives in your inbox in the form of a spoofed e-mail message. It sure looks legit, huh? Well, its not. Phishers blast e-mail messages in the hopes youll take the bait and click the links, which will redirect you to a fake website. What do they want? Your account numbers, PIN numbers, SSNs -- anything they can use to gain entry to bank and brokerage accounts and other financial information.

Remember, your brokerage, bank, credit union and credit card provider will never ask for this information via e-mail. They will never ask you to login to your account to confirm information.

If you feel youve been phished, do not access the links included in the e-mail. Also, report the phishing to your ISP and the Anti-Phishing Working Group (http://www.antiphishing.org/).

The Paper Trail Snatch that Receipt

I bet youre the type to leave the receipt at the gas pump and at the ATM when you make that late night deposit. Smack on the hand and shame on you stop doing that! Take ALL receipts when you make a purchase or a deposit, when you return items, etc. When you go to the clothing store, take the receipt out of the bag and place it in your wallet.

Save all receipts until you receive your end-of-month statements (see Two Dollars below). Also, dont throw away your receipts; see my notes on shredding.

Its Like Magic!

Pet Peeve: Folks who use cheesy passwords to protect their online accounts you folks make me crazy! I recently hired a client and Im managing several e-mail accounts for him. Guess what password he used for ALL of them? You guessed it: magic. I immediately changed the passwords on all of the accounts and then we had a chat.

You should never use a word you can find in a dictionary as your password. You should never use your birthday, the names of your wife or children or dog as passwords. Use a combination of letters and numbers and where possible, add special characters such as a bang (!) to your password. Also, change your passwords frequently, such as once a quarter or every six months.

Whats the s for, Anyway?

Ever notice certain website changes when youre making online purchases? Theres an s which appears after HTTP, for starters. This lets you know youre on a secure server. Also, check the status bar on the window youre using to make the purchase. You should see a yellow padlock -- mouse over the lock and youll see the encryption level for the site.

If you dont see both of these items, do not make the purchase right now and notify the vendor. Go back and make the purchase at a later time.

I Didnt Charge Two Dollars

Every month, without fail, I want to you check your statements from your credit union, bank, brokerage, credit card companies -- any institution from which you receive a paper statement or an online statement. If the bad guys have access to your account information, they may try and slip in a small charge before coming with the big guns. Take a look at each and every line item and verify youve made the purchase. If something is amiss, call that institution immediately.

The Joy of Shredding

I have a special shred basket near my desk and shred all of the baskets contents at the end of the work day. My personal receipts, which I no longer need and have reconciled against my online statements, get shredded. All working documents Ive printed or proofed, especially for my attorney clients, are blitzed at the end of day, as well. Anything which may personally identify me or my clients gets the treatment.

You have no logical excuse for not owning a shredder. Price? Not an issue, as shredders are incredibly affordable. You dont have a car to get to the office supply store? If youre reading this article that means youve got internet access. Start a new browser window NOW and access your favorite online office supply vendor. Youll have your new shredder in a matter of days and you too can become a Shredder Queen (or King).

We live in a different world from just a generation ago. Be smart, be aware and remember that if something seems too good to be true, it is.