12 Steps To Avoid Identity Theft

Identity theft is one of America’s fastest growing crimes. We live in a digital age, and that makes it even easier for people to get their personal information stolen. Fortunately, there are things that you can do in order to protect yourself.

Realize it can Happen to Anyone

When many people hear about identity theft, they think that it will not happen to them. However, anyone can be a victim of this crime regardless of their income or credit score. In fact, thieves have stated that they often target middle-income earners because they pay less attention to their finances.

Consider Getting an Identity Protection Service

There are several companies that offer identity protection. They will alert you if they notice something suspicious.

Keep Your Social Security Number Private

Your social security number is one of the key pieces of information that thieves look for. That is why you should keep that information private. Do not carry your social security card in your wallet. Avoid giving your social security number to anyone over the phone.

Keep Personal Documents Safe

Your birth certificate, social security number and other important documents should be kept in a safe space in your home. A safe deposit box is an example of a place you can keep important documents.

Avoid Carrying Too Much Plastic

The more credit cards you carry, the more likely you are to be a victim of identity theft. You should also avoid doing a balance transfer. This is an activity that can attract crooks.

Examine Your Monthly Statements Closely

When you get your bank and credit card statements, you need to inspect them for unauthorized charges. If you notice any charges that you did not make, then you will need to contact the bank immediately.

Use Your Credit Card Sparingly

Credit cards are convenient, but you do not want to become too dependent on them. Try to use cash in stores as much as possible.

Monitor Your Credit

Monitoring your credit report will also help you detect fraud. You can place credit freezes and fraud alerts on your account for additional protection.

Use Your Own Bank

You should use your bank when you need to get money out of the ATM. Many ATM machines are not secure as others.

Cancel Unused Credit Cards

There is no reason for you to have credit cards open that you are not using. The fewer credit cards you have open, the less you will have to monitor.

Do not Co-sign Loans

Finance companies often encourage people to co-sign loans for family members and friends who have bad credit or no credit. However, this puts you at risk for getting your identity stolen. If you want to help out a family member or friend, then you can give them money instead.

Protect Your Computer

Viruses and malware make it easy for hackers to steal personal information from your computer. Anti-viruses and anti-malware protection will help keep your computer secure.

Use Difficult Passwords

Your accounts will be a lot harder to hack if they have complex passwords. You can use passwords with symbols, numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters.

If you are looking to mitigate risks, be sure to look into our insurance services.

Article originally appeared at: https://pcg.firsttex.com/12-steps-avoid-identity-theft/