What can you do to prevent Identity Theft?

Don’t give your Social Security number to anyone you don’t have to .
The list of people who actually NEED your Social Security number is very short. You will need it to apply for a job or a loan, let a service provider (wireless phone company or insurance company) run a credit check on you, or to file your taxes.

Sometime in recent history, companies got the idea that a Social Security number was a good way to keep track of you. Everyone has one and they are unique to the individual. Social Security numbers are now being used for everything from Student ID numbers at colleges to video rental accounts. As a result, the most important part of your identity has become the most vulnerable.

Don’t carry your Social Security card with you.
Memorize your Social Security number and keep the card in a secure location like a locked filing cabinet at home or in a safe deposit box at your financial institution. If you think about it, you VERY rarely have to show anyone your Social Security card, so put it safely away.

Shred all finance related documents.
Before you throw away any old financial statements or credit card offers, tear them into very tiny pieces. Use a shredding machine if one is available. Unless identity thieves are VERY patient and very good at puzzles, it's going to be very hard for them to get any relevant data from a bunch of tiny strips of paper.

Go paperless.
Most credit card companies and financial institutions offer electronic statements. Instead of getting a statement in the mail every month, you get an e-mail notifying you that your statement is available. You can then log in to your account online and view your statement. If you have bills you need to pay, you can use an online bill payer service. That way you don't have to put any checks in the mailbox that could be intercepted before the mail carrier has a chance to pick up your mail.

Get a locking mailbox.
If your mail is secured in a locked box, it's a lot harder to steal.

Place unique passwords on all of your accounts .
In order for anyone to verify or access your financial information (credit cards, checking and saving accounts, etc.), they need to have the password. Don’t use your mother’s maiden name. Use some obscure made-up word that you will have to spell in order to be understood, like "flugenharven" or "schmoopsy poo." Not only is it more secure, but you and whoever is helping you will have a little chuckle every time you call. Life is about the small joys you can find in the minutiae of day to day life.

Check your Credit Report.
If you've been a victim of identity theft, it would probably show up on your credit report quickly. You can check your credit report once a year for free at all three credit reporting companies through www.annualcreditreport.com.

If you want to see your credit score, you will have to pay a fee, but if you credit report is wrong, your score will also be wrong. If you find inaccuracies on your credit report, you can file a dispute immediately online. However, if the credit report is accurate, you can’t do anything about your credit score.