According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, more than 10 million Americans were victims of identity theft between 2003 and 2004. The best way to save yourself from becoming one of these statistics is to learn about identity theft and implement the knowledge you’ve learned about how to avoid identity theft. Here are some useful tips.
Shred All Documents
Not only does shredding your personal documents save room in your garbage, but it can reduce the chances that a dumpster diver will turn you into an identity theft victim. This is one of the basic steps in how to avoid identity theft. All you need is a decent size shredder, which is available at almost any retailer for as little as $20. Shred anything that contains your personal data: bank statements, receipts, unused and canceled checks, any other document that contains your credit card number, social security number, or other personal information.
Be Alert in Your Environment
The easiest, most obvious way to steal your personal information is to actually watch or listen to you enter the numbers at the ATM, checkout line, or on the phone. If someone asked me how to avoid identity theft, I would simply tell them to pay attention to the people hanging out close by. For example, somebody close by could be watching as you enter your PIN at the ATM or may be eavesdropping as you tell someone your credit card information over the phone. Because you never know where an identity thief is lurking, you just can’t afford to let your guard down. No need to be crazy about this. Just keep your eyes peeled for anything suspicious and don’t do anything overly brainless like shouting your credit card number over the phone because the reception is bad.
Stay Vigilant of Your Credit Reports
If you think that you may be a victim of identity theft, make sure to check your credit report a.s.a.p. Every year, you are entitled to receive one free copy of your credit report from all three of the major credit bureaus. You should request these copies and use them to monitor your credit activity. At the first sign of fraud, you should file a report and place a fraud alert on your account. Being proactive is necessary to give yourself the best chance to avoid identity theft.
Other Ideas
There are a number of other things you should do to avoid identity theft. For example, you need to make sure you don’t leave your mail in the mailbox for more than one day. If you are going on vacation, you should definitely make arrangements to get your mail picked up everyday. You should also be keeping track of all of your financial accounts to make sure nothing fishy is going on. Finally, you have be smart deciding who, if anyone, should have access to your personal and financial information. Remember that more than 40% of identity theft victims knew their culprit.
