IDENTITY THEFT CHECKLIST

You can expect to experience years of lost money on top of the hassle and frustration of trying to get your stolen identity back, if you become an identity thief's victim. Identity theft statistics show that more than half a million consumers find themselves victims of one form of identification theft or another every year.

Identity theft prevention requires awareness. You have to know what tactics identification thieves use in order to prevent them from stealing your identity. This id theft checklist will help you prevent and protect your personal information:

	Identity Theft Checklist
		Take preemptive action. This checklist will virtually eliminate your risk of identity theft.

	Resolving Identity Theft
	If you are a victim of identity theft, you will want to take immediate action and be sure to cover all your bases.

	Free Credit Report
		A free credit report can potentially alert you to accounts that were opened as a result of identity theft.

	Shred Bank Statements, Tax Records, Etc.
	Your bank statements and other records provide criminals with more information than you might realize. Protect your identity.

	Keep Your Mailbox Secure
		Mail left in a mailbox can provide crooks with all the information they need to steal your identity.

	Current Identity Theft Scams
	Your awareness of the current identity theft scams will prevent you from becoming another victim.

1. You need to shred personal information you no longer need. For more information on the best way to shred documents and information, See: Shred Bank Statements, Tax Records, Etc.

2. Each time you apply for a loan or credit card, be sure to print clearly on all credit and loan applications using your full name;ie: first, middle and last.

3. You should check your bank, loan, and credit accounts regularly and thoroughly. If you don't recognize a something on your statement, investigate it immediately. The quicker you catch and report fraudulent activity, the less damage a thief can do.

4. You should check your credit report annually. You should do this to monitor your credit score as credit bureaus can make mistakes, but it will also reveal any fraudulent accounts created using your personal information. Once again, if you see any unauthorized accounts, check into it immediately. See Free Credit Report for more information.

5. Do not carry all of your credit cards with you at the same time. If your your wallet or purse is lost or stolen, you will have fewer credit accounts to investigate.

6. Do not misplace your credit card receipts or leave them lying around in your car. Many credit card receipts still include your entire account number on them. Keep receipts in a safe place or shred them if they aren't needed.

7. Drop bill payments off at a post office box. Don't leave them in your mailbox. Mail theft is a major source of identity theft. See: Keep Your Mailbox Secure for more information.

8. Call all of your credit issuers with your updated billing address if you move. It is also a good idea to get a P.O. Box to have all of your billing statements mailed to. This will prevent your credit information or expired card replacements from being mailed to an incorrect address.

9. Guard the your personal info at ATMs and phone booths so that others cannot see it. You might be surprised how many identity theft cases occur as a result of thieves standing close enough to see personal information being entered.

10. Do not give out your Social Security number unless you are confirming your account with a credit card company or other institutions that you know and trust. Also, do not print your social security number on anything such as your checks.

11. Do not have your Social Security number printed on your drivers license and don't carry your SSN and driver license around together in your wallet. If your SSN is on your license, you can have your DMV print you another license that remits it.

12. Never provide your Social Security number, bank account number or credit card number to anyone who contacts you through telephone solicitation. Beware of phone solicitations from crooks posing as one of your trusted institutions. If you are unsure, tell them you will call them back and then do so by calling the known number for that company.

13. When shopping online, look for an "https:" at the beginning of the site address and the lock in the bottom right of your browser indicating that the connection is secure. Symbols of agencies such as "Hacker Safe" or "The Better Business Bureau" are a good indication of security. If the site is really registered with one of these companies, you can go to security agencies site and do a search for the merchant in question. Online merchants should also spell out their privacy policy so that you know how the personal information you are entering is cared for.

14. Absolutely do not click on any email attachments from an unknown sender. Online identity thieves will send out spam emails containing a file with a virus attached. Once the file is opened, the virus begins emailing the identity thief any usernames, passwords and other information it finds on your computer. If you have any question as to the safety of a document sent to you, scan it with an anti-virus program first. If you don't have one, there are plenty of free online virus scans you can use.

15. Finally, do not click on a link in an email that appears to be from Paypal, eBay, financial institutions or any other company and that asks you to confirm or update your personal information with them. These companies will NEVER ask you to click on a link and enter your personal information. This type of email is from identification thiefs looking to STEAL your username and password so that they can use your account fraudulently. For a list of all the latest scams SEE: Current Identity Theft Scams.