Top 10 Identity Theft Protection Tips

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States with people facing increased attacks with their personal credit. Shredding your personal information is good, but not good enough. Here are 10 simple identity theft protection tips that everyone should follow to protect themselves against identity theft:
1. Get Proactive identity theft protection. Checkout our top rated identity theft protection services that help stop identity theft before it happens from TrustedID, Identity Guard, LifeLock, ProtectMyID, and ID Patrol from Equifax.

2. Destroy private records and statements. Use a shredder to destroy all your credit card statements, solicitations and other documents that contain your private financial information.

3. Secure your mail. Empty your mailbox quickly, lock it or get a P.O. box so criminals dont have a chance to steal pre-approved credit card pitches. Never mail outgoing bill payments and checks from home. They can be stolen from your mailbox and the payee’s name erased with solvents. Mail them from the post office or another secure mailbox location.

4. Safeguard your Social Security number. Never carry your Social Security card with you, or any other card that may have your number, like a driver’s license. And dont put your number on your checks. It’s the primary target for identity thieves because it gives them access to your credit report and bank accounts.

5. Don’t leave a paper trail. Never ever leave ATM, credit card or gas station receipts behind.

6. Never let your credit card out of your sight. Worried about credit card skimming? Always keep an eye on your card or, when that’s not possible, pay with cash. Beware of using your credit card online, by making sure you only buy from websites you trust and make sure they use a secure site “https://….” in the browser.

7. Know who you’re dealing with. Whenever anyone contacts you asking for private identity or financial information, make no response other than to find out who they are, what company they represent and the reason for the call. If you think the request is legitimate, contact the company yourself and confirm what you were told before revealing any of your personal data.

8. Be more defensive with personal information. Ask salespeople and others if information such as a Social Security or drivers license number is absolutely necessary. Ask anyone who does require your Social Security number — for instance, your insurance company — what their privacy policy is and whether you can arrange for the organization not to share your information with anyone else.

9. Monitor your credit report. Obtain and thoroughly review your credit report (now available for free at Annualcreditreport.com or by calling 877-322-8228) at least once a year to look for suspicious activity. If you spot something, alert your card company or the creditor immediately.

10. Review your credit card statements carefully. Make sure you recognize the merchants, locations and purchases listed before paying the bill. If you don’t need or use department-store or bank-issued credit cards, consider closing the accounts.