10 Quick Tips for Identity Protection

1. Have a secure mailbox.
   One of the top ways that identity is stolen is through directly stealing you mail from your mailbox. No matter what type of neighborhood you live in you can be a victim. Have a mailbox that has a lock on it or a mail slot on your house door. The harder it is for a predator to steal your mail, the safer you will be.
2. Opt-out of unsolicited credit card offers.
   When you get credit card offers in the mail that you don’t want, it becomes extra garbage that predators can easily use to steal your identity because simple credit card offers contain enough personal information about you for them to do so. Opting out of unsolicited offers is simple and free to do. See our step by step guide to Opting Out.
3. Do not leave your bills in the mailbox for the mailman to pick up.

   
   Although it is very convenient, there is a huge risk in having your bills along with your personal checks stolen. Even if this has never happened to you before, it doesn’t guarantee that it will never happen to you in the future.

4. Make sure you file a change of address with the post office when you move.
   There’s nothing like sending your personal information to the wrong person. Who knows what someone else is going to do with your mail that contains personal information such as, credit card or loan offers.
5. Check your credit report.
   The best way to make sure that no one is stealing your identity is to check your credit report at least once a year. By law this service is offered to you for free once a year at annualcreditreport.com but other services such as freecreditreport.com and Identity Guard charge fees but have additional measures to protect your identity. When checking your credit report make sure you check for inaccuracies. If you find something that does not reflect you then it means that someone has stolen your identity or the credit reporting agency made an error. Either way it is important that you contact the reporting agency to clarify the situation.
6. Be cautious when using your PIN number in public.
   Anytime you’re at an ATM or use your card when making a purchase in a store, be cautious of your surroundings. People may be peeking over your shoulder to see what your PIN is so that they can use it. Next time you go out, see how easy it is to see someone else’s PIN.
7. Do not carry your social security card and driver’s license together.
   If someone steals your wallet and you have both forms of ID together, it’s all a person need to steal your identity. Storing so much personal information in one place is detrimental when someone else discovers it.
8. Be aware of who you give your personal information to.
   Whenever you give your social security number, credit card number, bank account number, etc. to a person make sure that it’s someone at a trusted institution. If for any reason you are not comfortable releasing such information, then don’t give them your information. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
9. Do not use your credit card on a web site unless it starts with https.
   The “s” shows that you are on a secure website which is safe to use your credit card information. Other websites that start with http are not secure and you should not use your credit card on them.
10. Get a reputable service to help you protect your identity.
    Honestly, the easiest and most efficient way to protect your identity is to let trusted people with experience help you. I’m not trying to sell you something here, because services such as Life lock have 1 million dollar guarantees that they will protect you. Yes, they charge fees, but its only $10 a month, so it is definitely worth the investment.

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