Steps to Prevent Identity Theft

We're all worried about identity theft and how it mightThis has two advantages for your safety: it removes
affect us. It seems like even an IRS audit isn't asthe ability for thieves to access your full credit profile
devastating as identity theft could be. Luckily, it's notand it stops your receiving of "pre-approved" credit
that difficult to protect your identity if you're vigilant andapplications in the mail. Both of these are big conduits
a little bit careful. Here are some steps to preventfor credit fraud and identity theft, so closing them
identity theft to get you started down the road todown is important.
safety. Contrary to popular opinion, most identity theftAnother of the good steps to prevent identity theft is
actually takes place offline, in the real world. Theto get a Post Office box or the equivalent. These
Internet only accounts for about 11% of all identitylocked, secure mailboxes will keep your incoming mail
thefts in the U.S. Most thefts are credit card theftssafe from theft. A popular way for identity thieves to
followed by banking accounts such as checking orget information is to steal mail, especially bills and credit
savings.statements. Having a locked, secure box prevents this.
The first thing you need to do when taking steps toHave your bills, checks, and other information-containing
prevent identity theft is to limit the number of credit andmail sent to this secure box.
debit cards you carry. Most people aren't aware thatOn the reverse side of that coin, when you send out
credit cards are actually much better protected thanyour bill payments and other identifiers, don't use
debit cards are in the event of theft. With a creditnon-secure mailboxes to post them. Put this mail in the
card, you are only liable, by law, for $50. With a debitlocked, blue Post Office boxes on the curb or take
card, you could stand to lose everything in yourthem directly to the Post Office to mail. The box in
account.front of your house or the outbox at your work is
Limiting the number of cards you carry makes youprobably not safe.
less of a target and lowers the amount you stand toLast but not least, when shopping or doing business
lose if you are robbed, mugged, or have your pocketonline that involves your personal information or credit
picked. The fewer cards you have with you, the lesscard numbers, make sure that the people you're doing
they can steal. It's as simple as that. One step furtherbusiness with are legitimate. Look at the address bar in
is to make sure you don't have records of PIN oryour browser, before you enter that credit card
other identifiers with you as well.number on the screen, and make sure that the URL
The next thing you should consider doing is freezing or(address) begins with "https." That "s" means "secure."
locking your credit profiles at the credit bureaus. TheThen look down at the bottom right hand corner of
three bureaus are required, by law, to allow customersyour browser (off the Web page). There should be a
to freeze their accounts so that no new credit can beclosed padlock symbol.
added without express permission and no companiesThat icon means that your browser is securely
can look into a credit profile without permission. Thisconnected to the website in question. This is an SSL or
makes it so that only you and those you currentlySecure Socket Link. Not to get too complicated, but
have credit relationships (banks, credit cards, mortgagethat means that a strong, 128-bit encryption algorithm
lender, etc.) can access your profile. Even then, onlyhas been established between the website and your
you can access it to do anything other than updatebrowser. These two indicators show you that you're
records (mark payments received, amounts owed,on a site that's verified themselves and their
etc.).commitment to privacy.