Identity Theft Tips

You can help protect yourself from identity theft if you have the right tools and tips. You need to make sure that you have all the right information so that you are not unknowingly putting yourself at risk for identity theft. You must be attentive, careful, and realize what actions must be taken to protect yourself and your credit score as well.

Here are some important tips to help reduce your identity theft risk. You may not be able to completely protect your good name from some stranger targeting you for identity theft, but you can lessen the chances. Make habits of the following suggestions to help keep yourself safe.

* Shred and destroy all unwanted documents like junk mail and outdated personal information.

* Bring your mail in daily and do not leave it in your mailbox. Even a locked mailbox can be easily broken into. Locks only keep out honest people.

* Report any lost or stolen credit cards or any suspicious activity on your credit cards or lines of credit.

* Review and check your consumer credit reports on a regular basis. You want to watch for anything that is not right on those reports. You can dispute anything to make sure that it is a legitimate charge that you made on the account. Also, make sure all of the accounts are really yours.

* Do not carry your social security card or numbers on you. You should keep this along with your birth certificate and passport in a safe place at home or in a safety deposit box.

* Check all monthly financial statements of any kind every time you get one. This includes bank accounts, credit cards, investments, mortgages, and loans. Consider switching to online statements because you can get updates at anytime and can catch discrepancies or fraudulent activities sooner, before the damage becomes devastating.

* Scrutinize your financial statements. Balance your accounts. Make sure all transactions are ones you actually made or authorized. Report any suspicious activity immediately.

* Keep or shred your ATM and debit card receipts. Don't leave them behind in the ATM machine or in the trash.

* Shred every piece of mail you discard that contains any kind of personal or financial information.