Junk mail is a nuisance for many consumers who receive daily postcards, flyers, specially-marked envelopes and pre-approved credit card offers. Junk mail also presents an opportunity for ID thieves to steal important personal information. However, Better Business Bureau explains, there are several steps consumers can take to reduce the amount of unwanted mail and the possibility of identity theft.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans throw out more than 4 million tons of junk mail every year; and a Javelin Strategy and Research survey on ID theft estimates that 8.1 million Americans became victims of ID theft in 2007; with nearly half a million cases of ID theft occurring as the result of stolen mail.

Many people view junk mail simply as a daily nuisance, but if credit card offers and catalogs are heading to the trash can intact, that unwanted mail can become a much more sinister problem. Preventing ID theft perpetrated through the mail requires the two-step approach of reducing the amount of junk mail received, as well as shredding any sensitive materials, such as credit card offers.

BBB recommends consumers always shred important documents and take the following steps to reduce the amount of junk mail they receive:

PRE-APPROVED CREDIT CARD OFFERS: Pre-approved credit card offers are an easy target for identity thieves who can steal incoming mail and use these offers to open fraudulent credit accounts. Stopping these pre-screened credit offers can help reduce the chances of identity theft.

To "opt-out" of receiving the offers for at least five years, and perhaps permanently, consumers can call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (567-8688) or visit: www.optoutprescreen.com. This service is offered by the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Consumers will be asked for personal information, including their name, address, birth date and Social Security number. This information is only used to process requests and will remain confidential.

DIRECT MAIL OFFERS: Direct Marketing Association is a trade group with 5,200 member companies that use telephone, mail, and the Internet to pitch their products directly to consumers. To stop receiving mailings from DMA members, consumers can go to: www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailing. DMA regularly updates its list, but companies it notifies to remove names from their mailing lists may not be as prompt.

"RESIDENT" AND "OCCUPANT" MAILINGS: Consumers can remove their address from "resident" and "occupant" mailings that offer various goods and services, by contacting Valassis -- formerly known as ADVO, Inc. -- either by phone 1-888-241-6760, or through an online form at: www.advo.com/consumersupport.html. Consumers can also send a written request to ADVO, Inc. Customer Assistance, P.O. Box 249, Windsor, CT 06095.

Solicitations Sent to Children: If a child under age 13 is being mailed advertisements or credit card offers, it could be a sign that identity theft has occurred. Parents should contact the three major credit reporting bureaus, listed below, and inform them of the situation.

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

Experian: 1-888-397-3742

TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289

For more BBB advice on ID theft prevention -- including trustworthy advice on staying safe on the Internet, visit www.bbb.org.

Kelvin Collins is president/CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Central Georgia & the CSRA, Inc. This tips column is provided through the local BBB and the Council of Better Business Bureaus.