What Can I Do To Prevent Identity Theft?

There are some basic principles that can help you avoid becoming a victim of identity theft:

• Safeguard your personal information (date of birth, driver’s license number, Social Security Number, account numbers, credit card information, etc.). 
• Shred or destroy personal documents rather than tossing them in the trash or recycling bin.
• Do not respond to suspicious emails directing you to a website or asking you for your personal information, including your login credentials. Make sure to go directly to the website if asked to verify or update any information.
• Avoid providing personal information such as banking information while on a public computer or at a free wi-fi location.
• When creating online accounts, develop strong passwords by combining lower and uppercase letters, numbers, and characters. Try to refrain from using personal identifying information in your password.
• Periodically get a copy of your credit report to see if there is any unauthorized activity in your name. The website annualcreditreport.com enables you to request your credit report for free, once every 12 months, from each of the major credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Consider staggering your reports every four months. January request Equifax, May request Experian, and September request TransUnion.