Perry,
This is not foolproof by any means, but everything that I receive with my name and address on it I run that part through my shredder. Also all financial statements and anything that has any information about my SS#, Bank Accounts, and anything else that can help identify me. Unfortunately there is no way other than watching carefully when you use a credit card or write a check to see that no one makes a copy of it. I don't think there is any foolproof way to be secure. I used to tell people to not say anything on the telephone that they don't want the world to know about as those conversations are monitored more than the public ever knows about. Also the same for putting anything on a computer. The best I do is just be careful and avoid any more exposure of my information than I have to make public.
Maybe become an illegal alien and then if someone steals your identity they will be arrested.
Edited to correct spelling
Ron