Thinking of walking to your neighborhood mail box this night to drop off that bill?

Think again.

Thieves have been known to fish for mail. They use string to lower pieces of cardboard covered with glue down blue mail boxes and open envelopes that stick looking for personal information they can steal.

An FBI agent shared this method of thievery with a Spanish-speaking audience last week in San Diego to illustrate the lengths criminals go to steal a person's identity.

Immigrants, in particular, can fall prey to identity theft because they may know American practices or received word of how prevalent it is.

"Why do criminals do it?" FBI Special Agent Josefina Regula asked. To get money, she said. To hide their criminal history by using another person's identification, she added.

The agent offered tips to minimize the risks of becoming a victim of identity theft.

If you're going to use a mail box, do it during or close to the posted pick up hours. Better yet, drop your mail off at your local post office. It's more secure.

Regula warned people not to carry their Social Security cards or numbers in their purses or wallets because of what can happen if it falls in the wrong hands. Criminals want your personal information to take out loans and credit cards and to hide their identity in case they are stopped by police.

Be careful what you throw away, she said. Thieves will go through your trash looking for bills, credit cards and other information. Tearing bank statements and other documents before tossing them away isn't good enough either, she said.

"Criminals have a lot of time" on their hands and will try to piece papers together, she said. "Use a shredder," she said.

Also avoid giving any personal information over the phone, mail or Internet unless you know you're dealing with a legitimate person.

Erin MacKinnon, an FBI community outreach specialist, offered additional tips to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft.

Review your account records and close unused accounts

Remove your name from mailing lists for pre-approved credit lines and telemarketers. Call 888-567-8688 (888-5Opt-Out); Spanish-language service is available

Obtain a credit report each year and review it for questionable entries (www.annualcreditreport.com). (Spanish language not available on this site)

Contact your creditor or service provider immediately if you notice odd charges or if expected bills do not arrive

Be cautious about what personal information you post online and restrict access of your posts

Update your computer virus software and install a firewall program

Money scams vary and are constantly changing.

At the public safety forum at the Jacobs Center, Regula said elderly people are frequently targeted in money scams and urged audience members to keep an eye on older members of their families and vulnerable neighbors.

Be skeptical, she said, if someone calls and says you have won a lottery or sweepstakes but need you to send money in advance to get the reward.

MacKinnon said in other criminals pretend they are collecting donations for victims of a natural disaster. Sometimes they claim to be police officers and ask for money for their services.

"The best thing is to hang up and call the police," she said.