Picture this scenario: You and your guests head out to a classy restaurant, you're treating them out to dinner. As the meal ends, you hand over your card to that pretty waitress to pay for dinner. A few minutes later, the waitress returns your card and politely asks you for another one. So you call up your credit card company and you find several items in the record that you never even purchased, and you have maxed out your limits.

Does this situation sound so embarrassingly familiar? If ever this has happened to you, then you may be a victim of credit card theft. A survey by the Better Business Bureau last 2006 revealed that there were as much as 9 million reported cases of identity theft (and that is in the US alone!).

With the number of personal and sensitive information freely available over the Internet these days, it's no wonder identity theft has become as rampant as it is nowadays. But did you know that identity theft can always be avoided? Read on and familiarize yourself with these simple ways to prevent yourself from being an identity theft victim.

1. Check your credit card billing statements thoroughly.

Some people will never know that they have been a victim of identity theft until it's too late and you have already lost hundreds and even thousands of dollars under their very noses. So to credit card owners, be very meticulous and check your credit card billing statements every time you receive it. Review on each purchase and if you see even a single item there that you never bought, contact you credit card company immediately for further details.

2. Never give out sensitive or even just personal information.

One of the reasons why identity theft is so rampant nowadays is because it is now very easy to obtain personal information about a certain person. The internet itself is like a huge library of biodata that anyone with a computer and Internet connection can easily access. So keep yourself away from being victimized and try as much not to give any kind of personal information to websites that may ask for them.

3. Keep your ATM receipts after every transaction.

Most people usually just throw away their ATM receipts after every transaction. But did you know that an ATM receipt can also contain very sensitive information that identity thieves could use? So after every transaction, just keep the receipts in your bag or tear them into pieces before throwing them away.

4. Do not put your credit cards all in one wallet.

Do not put all your cards and IDs in one wallet. Just in case it gets stolen, it would be very, very easy for the thieves to steal your identity and even steal money from your bank and credit card accounts.

5. Guard you social security number with your life.

Social security numbers are very, very sensitive information. With this, anyone can access all the sensitive details about you. So don't just give this number away like it was a calling card. Again, guard it with your life.

Being extra vigilant on these kinds of information can take you a long way. So guard your identity with your life. It only takes a little bit of precaution to prevent these things from ever happening to you.