Identity Theft - 12 Ways to Protect Yourself and Your Credit

Identity theft is spreading at an alarming rate. It seems like databases all over are being compromised and sensitive information is being stolen. Just about any database that stores sensitive information can be entered by unauthorized individuals. Large attacks include student loan databases and credit card companies. Anywhere that you leave your credit card information can be a potential danger.

Identity theft is not just limited to credit cards. Medical data theft is on the rise also. Utilities can be started with stolen information. Someone could have an account number and just enough information to convince a customer service rep to give them more information.

Here are some steps to discourage Identity Theft:

1) Make a copy (front and back) of all ID cards, credit cards, and passports, etc., and put them in a secure place. Just in case anything happens, you will have a copy of these important documents for quick reference.

2) Do not to put down or leave your purse or wallet unattended when out in public. It takes a second for someone to quickly grab a purse or wallet and empty it of its valuable contents.

3) Sign up for a reputable credit monitoring and restoration service. This service is valuable because it will alert you whenever there is any activity on your credit report. This lets you keep an eye on activities that you trigger as well as any unauthorized activity.

4) Check bank accounts, credit cards, bills, and utilities, etc. as soon as your bill comes in for any suspicious or unauthorized activity. If your accounts are online, check more often because activity could occur while your statement is in the mail. It might be worth your time to check your credit card and bank accounts daily if possible.

5) Be sure to check for very small dollar amounts of suspicious activity. Sometimes small amounts are siphoned from accounts so they do not draw attention and the owner does not know what is going on. Over time, this could add up to a large sum of money.

6) If you can, use credit/debit cards not linked to your main bank account. This could minimize the loss of these were ever stolen because there would be a limit as to what amount is available.

7) Never ever throw away sensitive information (anything with bank account/credit card numbers, social security number, mother's maiden name, etc.) without shredding it first. Using a cross shredder is your best bet. WHY??? Your garbage is a goldmine of information for identity theft. You would be surprised what someone can use against you.

8) If you lose your credit/bank card, report it stolen right away. Do not give the ID thief a chance to charge anything.

9) Visit annualcreditreport.com for your free yearly credit report. You are entitled to a free credit report every year. Check carefully for anything that is inaccurate or suspicious.

10) Empty your mailbox as quickly as possible. Do not give anyone the opportunity to go through your mail and your personal documents. People also steal credit card applications and offers, activate them, and charge anything imaginable.

11) Protect your PIN numbers, ATM cards and bank/credit cards carefully. Make your passwords something that only you can remember but impossible for anyone else to guess. Change passwords every 3 months to be safe.

12) Do not give your Social Security Number or any other personal information over the phone unless you initiated the call and know the person on the other line. Do not give sensitive information over the Internet unless the site is secure and the company is reputable.

These are only some of the ways to protect yourself from identity theft. You must be diligent in tracking your sensitive information. Take the time to compile a list of your personal information and keep it in a safe place. Protect yourself and your credit.

Author Kelly Smith is an avid reader and Internet researcher whose favorite research subjects are small business marketing, passive/residual income, saving money and learning new things. She is the owner of http://www.kreatively-you.com and [http://www.addmytweets.com]. You can follow her on Twitter @blastoffgirl123.