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Self Tips

With another identity stolen every three seconds, identity theft is one of the nation's fastest growing crimes. But you don't have to be next.

Here are ten ways you can take control of your identity and reduce your chances of falling victim to this devastating crime:

  1. Place free fraud alerts on your credit report.

    Fraud alerts notify creditors that they should take reasonable steps to verify your identity before issuing new lines of credit, etc. This makes it extremely difficult for thieves to use your information for their financial gain. You can place fraud alerts with all three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) if you have a good faith suspicion that you have been or are about to become a victim of identity theft, but alerts last only 90 days and must be renewed continuously to be effective.

  2. Opt out of unsolicited credit card offers.

    Not only are pre-approved offers annoying, they also present an easy opportunity for thieves. You may choose to opt-out of pre-approved credit offers for a five-year period or on a permanent basis. This reduces the possibility of someone rifling through your mail and opening credit using your name.

  3. Don’t let your mail sit in the mailbox.

    Believe it or not, identity thieves can still obtain information by stealing your mail. Junk mail, bank statements, bills, pre-approved credit offers, and W-2s all contain the personal information that a thief would need to impersonate you. Don’t give them the chance. Be sure to pick up your mail as soon as it’s delivered or have it delivered to a locked box.

  4. Check your statements as soon as you receive them.

    As soon as you receive your monthly statement, reconcile it against your receipts. And if you find even the smallest discrepancy, notify your bank or credit card company immediately. Sometimes thieves will make insignificant purchases, and if the small purchase is ignored and the account remains open, they will continue to make larger purchases.

  5. Become acquainted with a shredder.

    All read mail should go through the shredder before it goes to the trash. Though identity theft is steadily transferring to online forums, some identity theft is still done by trash digging. Using a shredder on all of your personal documents makes the job for any would-be identity thief infinitely more difficult.

  6. Beware of unsolicited emails asking for your sensitive information.

    The IRS recently reported receiving over 30,000 messages regarding fraudulent emails disguised as official IRS communications. By clicking on links contained in the email, not only are you directed to a fake IRS website that requests your personal and financial information, officials also fear that it may automatically download malicious software designed to steal your passwords and other account information. How do you know what’s real and what’s not? To be on the safe side don’t open any unsolicited emails and certainly never provide your information.

  7. Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software.

    It used to be that shredding your documents was protection enough, but with modern technology, identity thieves can access your information without ever leaving their home. There are numerous pay, and even free, anti-virus programs. Do your research and be sure you’re protected by the latest anti-virus software.

  8. Protect your Social Security number.

    Don’t carry your Social Security card with you or give out your Social Security number if it’s not necessary. If a business, doctor or financial institution asks for your social, ask why they need it and see if it’s possible to substitute another identifier.

  9. Let experts protect you.

    While preventative measures can be done by anyone, none of the above steps can stop all identity theft.

The best way to reduce your risk is to protect yourself with LifeLock. As the leader in identity theft protection, LifeLock works to help stop identity theft before it happens – even if your information falls into the wrong hands. We promise that if you become a victim of identity theft due to a defect or failure in our service, we’ll restore your identity at our expense, up to $1,000,000.

Get the same confidence and peace of mind that all LifeLock members have. Protect yourself today.