Have you ever wanted to protect your identity from thieves, but weren’t sure how? Your identity is yours alone and no one else should have access to it. Protecting your identity from thieves is a bit of work. Thieves work hard to steal your identity, so make sure you’re proactive to prevent them from stealing anything from you. There are lots of ways you can protect your identity, you just need to know how. These tips are for you.

(1) Keep an eye on your credit report

One of the best things you can do to protect your identity from thieves is to watch your credit report. There are tons of websites out there that help to monitor your credit and credit score. It doesn’t cost you a ton of money, so there is no excuse to not keep an eye on your credit report.

(2) Pay attention to your bank account

Do you know how many thieves steal money without you even realizing. Check your bank account frequently to make sure no unauthorized charges are occurring. Even if you see one suspicious charge, you should contact your bank to see where it came from and if it may be fraudulent.

(3) Put a top of the line blocker on the computer (antivirus)

A lot of times, identity thieves will simply put spyware or malware on your computer to steal your information. To avoid this, you will want to put a top of the line blocker on your computer to help protect you. There are also free computer protection programs out there, they aren’t as good. You don’t want to end up with spyware

(4) Mix Up Your Passwords

Do you use the same password for everything? This is a red flag that you should pay attention to. If you use the same password for everything, then hackers will have an opportunity to steal all of your info. Mix up your passwords and make them strong enough that a hacker can’t figure them out. You should also change up your password every 3 months.

(5) Don’t give out your personal information

Not all of you just walk around handing out your personal information and there’s a good reason why. Personal information shouldn’t be shared with anyone, especially online. If your info gets in the wrong hands it can be a huge issue. All it takes is a little information and hackers can do a lot of damage with it. Keep this in mind as you shop online this holiday season.

(6) Always destroy private records

Think again before you just throw your private records in the trash. Before you throw anything away that’s private, you should shred it. Even then, anything shredded should be disposed of properly. Any credit card statements, school records, and mail should be destroyed and taken care of! Don’t let thieves get the chance to dig through your trash and steal important info. If you see someone digging through your trash, on the side of the road, it’s a good indication that they’re trying to steal your information.

(7) Don’t leave your receipts laying around

Everyone gets a receipt when they go through the ATM. If you leave that receipt in there, someone else could see how much money you have in your account. This may interest them further and they may pursue you to steal from you. While this is unlikely, you don’t want to give someone a reason to steal from you.

(8) Review your credit card statements

We talked about reviewing your bank statements, but you’ll also want to review your credit card statements. Reviewing this information is important because it may be the only way to tell if there is fraud happening. Of course, most credit card companies are vigilant in ensuring they flag any unusual activity on the account.

(9) Don’t give out information over the phone

It’s the day and age in which spammers are calling people on their cell phones, it’s important to remember that private information should not be given out. Spammers have a way of coercing you to give you information. It’s best to be smart about it and not give them any information.

(10) Protect your social security number

Your social security number is the lifeline to your credit. You’re the only one that should have this information. Once a thief gets ahold of your social security number, they can start opening credit cards and other credit accounts in your name. What if they wrack up taxes in your names? It can be hard to remove tax liens.

The next time you think it’s not worth it to be vigilant in protecting your identity, think again. Thieves are always looking for an easy way to steal your information. These ten tips give you enough information to help you protect your identity from thieves.

How do you protect your identity from thieves? We’d love to hear how you keep your personal information safe.

Published: 2018-11-21 08:36:30