Knowing the steps to take in order to prevent identity theft can greatly reduce your risk of a disaster in the future. This writer's identity was stolen a few years back. The fraud was discovered before anything harmful could happen. Many people are not as lucky and face problems which can take years or decades to recover from. This is a serious crime that can leave people penniless and in debt. Some of these criminals are put in jail without the system ever knowing their real name.

Some examples of what identity thieves do:

1. Get jobs in the victim's name to skirt tax bills
2. Forge government documents 
3. Open credit card accounts in the victim's name
4. Access bank records and other financial data
5. Committing crimes and framing someone

Ways you can prevent identity theft and other threats:

Cut or shred your credit cards when you get new ones

Many paper shredders now come with a slot to shred your credit cards. An alternative is to cut them using scissors so any data can not be read. Many perpetrators use dumpster-diving as a technique to retrieve items which can be used to their advantage.

Shred papers and other documents which contain personal information

This is a more important idea than one might assume. As odd as it sounds, digging through trash is one of the most common ways info is obtained. This is especially important to do if your name, address or social security number are visible. 

Keep credit card statements in a safe place

Be organized and keep records for future reference, do not just throw them out. It is good to store them in a safe place. These statements usually have the account number in plain view.

Carefully examine all charges on your credit card statements

Be sure to look over each one as you receive them. Detecting these purchases early is better than finding out later as it will allow you to take action and end it before serious damage is done. If you see anything suspicious, call your bank or issuing company immediately and have them change the account number. Also call the big credit reporting agencies to have them put you on 1 year fraud alert. This way you will be informed if anyone tries to open accounts in your name.

Check credit reports from all 3 major credit reporting agencies

Getting this from Experian, Trans Union and Equifax provides you with detailed information about your entire history. This will show any red flags which may help you spot identity theft if it has already happened.

Do not give out your social security number

This is the key piece of information needed to hijack someone's life. Do not carry any cards or papers that contain your SS# either, should your wallet be lost or stolen.

Do not print your social security or driver's license number on checks

This just leaves your information in the hands of several strangers who will handle it between the point of sale and the time it is deposited.

Make copies of the contents of your wallet

This will help you get things back together if it should fall out of your possession.

Only purchase things from web sites that use security

Besides the obvious idea of only buying items from a trusted site, it is also important that personal information is only entered into web sites which use 128-bit encryption. This is usually indicated by a small icon of a padlock at the bottom or top of your browser, depending on which one you use. It keeps hackers from being able to steal the data you entered while it is in transit from your computer to the destination.

Do not use common numbers as PINs

Using birthdays and the last 4 digits of your phone number are too easy to guess. Hackers sometimes try those first when attempting to use ATMs.

Beware of e-mails asking for personal information

Some fraudsters use what is called Phishing to trick people into giving up private details. This usually comes in the form of e-mails which seem to be from your bank. There is usually a message claiming something along the lines of needing your username and password for a system update. Many of them actually contain logos or images that make it seem legitimate.

Be alert for fake phone calls

Sometimes scammers make calls to unsuspecting people posing as some type of official. What they do is called social engineering which is the art of convincing a person to divulge sensitive details.

Keep your computer safe from hackers

Click other links in this blog to learn all about keeping your system protected. It is imperative that firewall and anti-virus programs are installed.

Do not broadcast information

When you are at the counter of an electronics store purchasing something such as a new PC and the cashier asks you for your telephone number, do not give that out. If you trust the person or business asking, do it in such a way that it is discrete so no one near by hears more than they need to.

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