The Federal Trade Commission has recently issued warnings on how more and more online criminals are using new tricks called spoofing and phishing to steal your identity.free identity theft protection This usually involves bogus e-mails that trick consumers into giving out personal information which is then used to steal identities. Always use extreme caution prior to transacting personal and/or financial information over the internet. Only transact this type of information when you initiate the contact from known links you have secured, or when you are absolutely certain of the identity of the transaction recipient. Contact the legitimate company for verification if you have any doubts what-so-ever about an e-mail containing their name.