Identity Theft: Protect Yourself

In the digital age, one of the biggest threats to your personal safety is identity theft. A complete stranger here or on the other side of the planet can take just a few pieces of information about you, and destroy your credit for their personal gain.

This guide will tell you ways that your information can be stolen and how to prevent it from happening.

More Identity Theft Prevention Methods

Check Your Credit Score and Reports

If you don’t already, You need to make sure you are checking your credit score and report at least once a year. While there are other circumstances when you should check your score, you need to at least check once every twelve months. These credit report scans can allow you to see any unauthorized activity registered under your name.

By checking your score more frequently, you can potentially catch fraudulent activity faster, which could prevent future theft and lead to the arrest of your identity thief.

Keep Your Social Security Number Private

Your Social Security Number is the magic password that can grant access to all of your personal and financial information. For this reason, you should be very careful about who you share it with.

Never keep your Social Security card in your purse or wallet. If your wallet is misplaced or stolen, the thief won’t just have your credit cards and ID, but your Social Security Number as well.

Also be careful about who you give your Social Security Number to over the phone. If a business asks for your Social Security Number, normally you can request to give them another identification number, such as a driver’s license number. Any time you are asked by a government agency for your social security number, there has to be a privacy agreement, so keep your eyes open.

Secure Your Computer

A simple virus protection program can keep potential identity thieves from coming across your information online. Additionally, only enter personal information on websites that you know are secure and trustworthy.

Choose Smart Passwords

Never use the same password for all of your online accounts. If someone finds out the one password used for every account you have, you’ve just given them a free ticket to all of your information at once.

Try to choose passwords that are unpredictable and hard to guess. That means no mother’s maiden names, no birthdays, no pets’ names, guessable phrases – and especially not part of your social security number.

If you have a hard time remembering a large amount of passwords, write them down and keep them locked in a secure place. It might be a hassle now, but opening a safe to get your bank password is a lot easier than tracking down an identify thief.