Although no one is completely immune, you can take action to avoid having your identity stolen. The following are a few suggestions on how to best protect your name and your good credit.
Carefully guard your personal information and be selective about with whom you share it. Personal information includes such things as your name, address, phone number, driver's license number, social security number, credit card numbers, birth date, and mother's maiden name.
Carry as few credit cards and forms of ID as possible. Typically, there's no reason to carry your social security card in your wallet.
Keep a list or photocopies of all information you carry in your wallet or purse. Store this information in a secure location.
Shred documents that contain your personal information and account numbers before you throw them away. This includes unsolicited credit card applications.
Don't print your driver's license or social security number on your checks.
Examine your credit report from each of the three major credit-reporting agencies at least once a year. Find out how to get a copy of your credit report.
Read our tips on safe credit card usage.
If you find yourself a victim of identity theft, immediately take the following actions:
File a police report.
Contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit-reporting agencies. Request that they place a "fraud alert" on your file and that no new credit be granted without your approval.
For more information about identity theft, visit the following Web sites:
The U.S. government's central Web site for information about identity theft, maintained by the Federal Trade Commission: http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/. You can also call the FTC Identity Theft Hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT.
Identity Theft Resource Center: http://www.idtheftcenter.org/