Identity theft is a grave criminal offense that many people are still unfamiliar with. Recently there has been a massive rise in the reported cases of identity thefts. Almost one in twenty people will sufferers theft of identity at some point in their life. Different types of such thefts include credit card fraud, bank fraud, and the most severe case where the criminal will steal your Social Security number (and other forms of ID) and actually live their life as they were you

10 Simple Ways to Prevent the Theft of Identity

1. If you lose your credit card or believe it has been stolen, don't waste time in speculating about its whereabouts. Even if you are convinced that it might turn up somewhere, be prompt in reporting the incident to the credit card company. Trust us when we say that in such cases no step is too hasty because if you aren't careful, you will suffer the consequences

2. Be organized and check your financial statements and credit matters as often as possible. Go through each bill carefully before you pay them to make sure it is you who has actually made the purchases. This will help you detect an anomaly immediately, especially if someone has taken out credit under your name.

3. Never give out personal information, such as information about your ID, during a telephone conversation that you did not initiate. Information you should be careful about includes your Social Security code, Driving License number, birth date, bank account details, and any other ID-related information.

4. Multiple accounts in banks lead to trouble. Make sure you close all your unused accounts. Criminals often target bank accounts they know have become unused, because the owners will rarely check these accounts.

5. Make sure your credit cards are kept in a safe place and put an upper credit limit on their usage for precaution's sake.

6. Put papers and mail containing important information through the shredder when you have finished using them.

7. Once an account from which checks can be drawn is closed, you should put the unused checks through the shredder as well.

8. Always keep the valuable important papers well within your sight, especially when you are out shopping, or in the office or even in a rest room. Be extra careful about your wallet; make sure you don't misplace it anywhere.

9. Do not disclose too much personal information over the internet. An identity thief can easily gain access to your certificate of birth and other relevant documents with just the name of the place where you were born.

10. PIN codes and passwords should be well protected and guarded. Commit them to your memory. Never select a password that you find easy to remember, such as your partner's name or your date of birth. Chances are, it'll be convenient for the thief as well.