How Do I Avoid Identity Theft?

1. Make sure you check your credit report often. It is actually the law that you are entitles to get a detailed credit report from each consumer report company every 12 months, so be sure to take advantage of that to avoid identity theft.

2. Do not carry your social security card or number on your person or in your wallet. Keep this in a safe place at home.

3. Do not use links in emails from companies you do not trust or know nothing about. It is better to just type in the website manually into your browser. Never give out personal information over the phone or in an email either.

4. When at an office or place of business where your personal information is needed, do not be afraid to ask them how that information will be protected or if that information is really mandatory to have.

5. Never type in your credit card number or ANY personal information unless the website has the HTTPS:// before the website. The "S" is the webs way of keeping sites secure.

6. Shred any credit card or bank documents before you throw them away. One of the biggest forms of identity theft is still because thieves go through your trash. It's just not worth the risk. Shred it up in pieces as small as possible.

7. Try not to use the same password for everything. I know it's easier to remember the same password for accessing your credit card and bank accounts online, but use a different one for each site.

It may seem a little strange that the most valuable thing you have is your very own identity. It's not a tangible thing, but it can cost you a fortune for someone else to steal it away from you. You might think that you are fine, and that no one could possible steal your ID because you don't have a credit card or because you don't use your credit cards online, but there are many ways in which ID theives can take away this precious commodity from you. From swiping machines, to sifting through your trash, an ID theif does not need to have your credit card info to take your ID. In fact, more children are having their identities taken from them and they don't find out about it for years down the road and it can ruin their credit history report for years to come.

The ID Protection Book is just $9 and is a great little book on everything you need to know to keep yourself safe from identity thieves, who are literally everywhere these days.

This book was a pretty useful tool for learning these things below:

1. What information about you is most vulnerable
2. Find out what the thieves really do with your information.
3. How to shop safely on the internet.
4. Find out what to do AFTER your ID is stolen, if this ever happens.
5. Names and Contact info of government agencies to call if anything happens.

.... and more useful info to avoid identity theft.

Check out the ID Protection Book here.