12 Ways to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

Identity theft is a serious issue that affects over nine million Americans every year. Victims of this crime spend as many as 600 hours to clear their identity. This includes obtaining affidavits and reports to prove the theft, figuring out the level of the breach, and finally getting their identity back. While is there is no guaranteed way to prevent identity theft, there are some steps you can take to minimize the possibility of such an event. Here are a few suggestions that may help you keep your identity safe from criminals.

1. Check Your Credit Reports: By doing this, you can stay on top of your credit situation and quickly identify any instances of identity theft. Log in to AnnualCreditReport.com to get a free report once a year from each of the three credit bureaus, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. Alternatively, you can buy a report from Equifax for $11, or from all three bureaus for $15 at TrueCredit.com.
   
   
2. Monitor Your Bank Accounts: Carefully scan your bank statements for unauthorized charges every month. If your institution allows online access, log into your account at periodic intervals to check your details. Make sure to keep your login details safe by not writing them down or telling them to anyone.
   
   
3. Credit Monitoring: Another way to protect your identity is to subscribe to credit monitoring services. For a small fee, this will give you access to your credit report and score from all three bureaus any time you wish. It will also provide periodic updates about any activities that take place in your credit card accounts.
   
   
4. Fraud Alert: If you feel that your identity may be compromised, you can place a fraud alert on your report. This can be done by contacting any of the three credit bureaus. It lasts from 90 days to 7 years and requires organizations to take extra steps to confirm your identity whenever a credit action is taken.
   
   
5. Security Freeze: Once this is implemented, organizations will require a PIN or password to check your credit report. Unless you are a victim of identity theft, this service comes with a fee.
   
   
6. Remove Yourself from Promotional Lists: This includes junk mail or pre-approved credit card offers that have your personal information which criminals could intercept and misuse.
   
   
7. Keep Your Social Security Number Safe: It can be very damaging if this information falls into the wrong hands. Make sure that you never carry your social security card in your wallet, as it may be stolen. Additionally, avoid writing the number down and ensure no one is eavesdropping when you give these details to customer service representatives.
   
   
8. Collect Your Check Order: If you opt for having your check order delivered, thieves may steal it and use the information to make purchases. A better option would be to pick up your checks from the bank yourself.
   
   
9. Pay Bills Online: If you mail your bills, criminals may extract them from the mailbox to get a hold of your personal information. Thus it is advisable to instead pay online.
   
   
10. Shred Personal Documents Before Discarding: Dumpster diving is a common way of obtaining personal details to commit identity fraud. Thus, make sure you always use a shredder on your mail, credit card statements and receipts before you discard them.
    
    
11. Don’t Give Out Personal Information: You may get unsolicited requests asking for details such as your name, birthdate, bank account number, etc. through the mail, over the phone or online. Ignore them always.
    
    
12. Beef Up Your Security: It is advisable to install firewalls and anti-virus software on your computer systems, and to use impersonal, complex passwords that are difficult to guess.

By following the steps listed above, there’s a good chance that you’ll escape the clutches of identity thieves and other criminals. Though the measures may seem cumbersome, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

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