The federal government cracked down on identity theft and tax refund fraud this past week, targeting 105 people in 23 states. The sweep included 80 complaints and indictments, 58 arrests, and ranged from Alaska to Florida.

The use of stolen personal information to file fraudulent tax returns for refunds has become an ever-increasing problem. Last year alone, the IRS found 260,000 fraudulent tax returns, blocking $1.4 billion in refunds.

IRS Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement said the timing of this sweep isn’t just a coincidence – it was designed to send a message of warning to those who would commit crimes such as this. At the start of this year’s tax season, the IRS wants a clear message sent to identity thieves: you will be caught and prosecuted.

But how do these thieves obtain the Social Security numbers they need in order to commit tax fraud? Schools and hospitals are often the target source for SSNs, but thieves will steal a wallet or dig through the trash as well. So it is important to protect yourself, regardless of where you are or who you are dealing with.

If you are asked to provide your Social Security number or the number of your child, ask how the number will be used, and how it will be protected and stored. You should also ask if there is an alternative form of identification that can be used.

Shred all documentation which bears your SSN, or any other personal or financial information before you dispose of it. Never carry your Social Security card with you unless you have a specific reason to, and then remove it from your wallet or purse and store it in a safe location.

Criminals design websites that look like legitimate business sites, which feature real business names, logos and contact information, all in the name of tricking consumers into giving up their personal or financial information. It also ruins the reputation of the business.

The victims, in this case, businesses, don’t usually know they’ve been victimized by identity thieves until they are contacted by customers complaining about false solicitations, fake websites, phishing e-mails, fraudulent charges or check cashing schemes. Businesses who fall victim also can get billing and customer service complaints.

If you are a business owner, watch for the signs of identity theft: unusual product or service requests, unfamiliar advertisements posted online, and unwarranted complaints filed by unknown customers.

If you do fall victim, here’s how you can minimize the damage. First of all, make sure your licensing and registration records are up to date on your business name. You should set up Web alerts so that you know if your business name, address or phone number has been used without authorization. If you find fake ads, contact site publishers to have them removed immediately.

Track the complaints you receive, and alert your customers of possible scams. You should also report the crime to your local police, as well as the Federal Trade Commission.

But an estimated 9 million people faced just that during the past year, all victims of identity theft. This figure wasn’t helped out by the convenience of the new radio frequency identification credit card, despite the fact that a the cards are supposed to be designed with extra layers of security against identity theft.

An RFID card is basically designed to transmit credit card information through radio waves from a chip embedded in the card. When you use your card at a retailer, your card won’t be swiped through traditional point of sale machine. Instead, all you have to do is hold your card close to a card scanner, and it transmits the information. It’s supposed to be fast and convenient.

But is this technology safe? Because the technology behind the card allows you to conduct a transaction without putting the card through the card reader at the point of sale, a thief can also be nearby and swipe your information using an RFID scanner.

But there is good news. RFID cards encrypt a cardholder’s information, so a thief has to not only obtain the information, but also has to break the card issuer’s encryption. Each transaction is also given an authentication code, which means if a thief has the info from your RFID chip, they can only make one purchase with the authentication code.

It should be noted, however, that this is the case only if your information is stolen by a thief nearby using an unauthorized scanner. If the thief actually steals your card, he can use the magnetic stripe on the back until the card is reported as stolen.

Protect your card by storing it in an RFID-blocking wallet or a credit card shield. You could also request a new card from your card issuer, that does not contain the RFID chip.

But when you return to your hotel room that night, you find that your bank has notified you that your credit card has been shut down because of a theft. After a little digging, you find that someone used your credit card information and also had the time of his or her life – to the tune of about $3,500.

Turns out, someone at the park used his smartphone to snap a picture of your credit card number at the theme park’s ticket booth.

It’s a well-known fact that when you travel, the risk to your personal and financial information escalates, particularly during the holidays. So what can you do to protect yourself?

First of all, don’t use free wireless if you are going to be checking your bank account status or shopping. It’s far too easy to hack into these servers and steal information.

Second, keep your eye on your credit cards at all times. Don’t let anyone, for any reason, take your card away from you and take it out of sight. And cover your card and the key pad if you are inputting a PIN.

Don’t use your debit card when you travel. It’s a direct link to your bank account, and doesn’t have the protections that a credit card offers.

The best thing you can do is to be cautious, no matter where you are or what the circumstances. Better safe than sorry.

Each year, thousands of people fall victim to identity theft and identity fraud as cyber crooks take advantage of online shoppers. These thieves also count on you to be in a hurry as you rush about, shopping, visiting friends and family and getting ready for the big day.

Here are some of the more popular scams you should be on the lookout during the holiday season:

• Shoulder surfing – Identity thieves take advantage of crowded stores. They’ll stand close enough to you to be able to watch you input your PIN when using your debit or credit card to make a purchase or withdraw money from the ATM. They’ll even use their phone to video it if they can. If you notice someone is hovering a bit too close, or if the crowd’s pressed in tight, be sure to cover the numeric pad as you input your PIN. Be careful about who can see your driver’s license, checking account or credit card information as well as you present these to store clerks.

• Dumpster diving – Crooks do this year-round, but the increased volume of mail during the holidays means they’ll be at it all the more. Open everything you get in the mail, even if it seems silly, and make sure you shred anything that bears your personal or financial information before you trash it.

• Malware – Beware of apps and free downloads for your smartphone and tablet. These will be available in abundance during the holidays, and not all free apps are designed to keep your holidays bright. Some are designed to download malware that will grab your personal and financial information.

• Phishing – Watch out for phony e-mail notices. You may receive legitimate-looking e-mail that appears to be from a bank or credit card company, or even delivery services like FedEx or UPS. Don’t click on the links included in these e-mails, even if you sent something you think you might need to track. Track your packages via the website.

But thieves are well aware that this is peak mailing season, and they are doing all they can to steal personal information from unsuspecting consumers. And this includes sending out fake e-mails.

A new scam is making the rounds in which a victim receives an e-mail stating that if the victim wishes to know the status of a package sent vial postal service, he can click on the provided link. The link downloads a virus that targets the victim’s personal information.

Another way thieves are scamming people is by stealing packages containing gifts and cards containing money. This not only provides them with personal information, but it also gives them a “gift.”

If you are expecting a package, ask your mailman to hold it at the post office so you can pick it up. Don’t have packages delivered to your door where they can become a temptation for a thief. You shouldn’t leave outgoing mail in your mailbox, either. Instead, mail it at the post office or in a locked mailbox.

And despite the holiday rush, be sure you pick up your mail each day. Don’t leave it in the box for a thief to steal. If you go out of town for the holidays, have the post office hold your mail, or have a trusted friend or neighbor pick up your mail and hold it until you return.

The woman received the questionnaire Oct. 28, which required that she provide her Social Security number. She complied and later discovered the theft. After reporting the theft to the police, the woman was shown an actual questionnaire endorsed and provided by the country in which she lives, and she verified that the form she had received, filled out and returned to a bogus address was, in fact, different.

Authorities in the area have issued a warning about the scam, and have asked residents there to ignore such forms until the investigation is complete.

If you receive a form in the mail such as a jury commission form, before you fill it out, make sure you verify that it is indeed legitimate. Call the agency from which the form claims to have originated, and verify that the form was mailed to you.

If you have filled out a form such as this and suspect that you may have done so in error and fear you may fall victim to identity theft, contact your local police and report the scam. You should also begin to watch your credit reports, bank and credit card statements to see if any fraudulent transactions appear or any accounts are opened that you didn’t apply for.

Another step you can take is to place a fraud alert on your credit reports. To do this, simply call one of the three credit reporting agencies and request the alert be placed. There is no need to contact all three agencies; the one you contact is bound by law to notify the other two. The alert lasts for 90 days.