15 Tips for Protecting Your Identity

15 Things You Can't NOT Know to Protect Yourself

At some point, we've all wished we could change places with someone else, preferably someone rich and famous. Guess what? There are plenty of people who'd love to be plain-old you, and they'll go to great lengths to get their hands on your identity.

More than half a million people find themselves victims of identity theft each year. If you're an ID thief's mark, you'll likely face years of lost money and added frustration as you work to clean up the mess.

The best protection is prevention. Here are some tips to safeguard your good name:

1. Be watchful of shoulder-surfers. At ATMs and phone booths, thieves will stand close enough to see PIN numbers punched in by users.

2. Mind those credit card receipts, especially since only a few credit card receipts have stopped listing full account numbers and expiration dates. Put the charge slip copies in a safe spot until your credit card bills arrive.

3. Buy a shredder and use it. Shred everything, including credit card receipts (after you've reconciled your bill), old bank statements, medical statements, everyday bills, and pre-approved credit card offers. Any document that has personal financial information on it can give an identity thief a foothold into your life.

4. Write clearly on all credit applications. Consistently and completely fill in all credit and loan applications using your full name, first, middle and last. Every bill that comes to your house should be addressed exactly the same.

5. Monitor your credit accounts carefully, so you'll know if a bill's missing or unauthorized purchases have been made. Close out unused credit cards. Cutting them up is not enough.

6. Limit the number of credit cards you carry. The fewer cards you have, the easier it is to track them.

7. Get a credit report at least once a year and clean up any errors. Look for personal information and credit accounts that are not yours. Credit bureaus make mistakes.

8. Never leave paid bills in your mailbox for the mail carrier to pick up. Drop them off at a post office box.