Protect Your Credit
Do not carry extra credit cards, your Social Security card, birth certificate or passport
with you unless needed.

• When you order new checks, do not have them sent to your home. Pick them up at the bank instead. If stolen, your checks can be altered and cashed by identity thieves.

• Only give out personal information over the phone if you initiated the call. Identity thieves may call, posing as banks or government agencies.

• Shred your receipts, credit card offers, bank statements, returned checks and sensitive information before throwing it away.

• Check with your employer, landlord and others who can access to your personal data to be sure that they are keeping your records safe.

• Protect your Social Security number with extra care. Don't have your Social Security number printed on your checks.

• Follow your billing cycles closely. A missing credit card bill could mean an identity thief has changed your billing address.

• File away a list of all your account numbers--with expiration dates and telephone numbers. If your wallet is stolen, you will be able to quickly alert your creditors.

• When creating passwords or PIN numbers, use a random mix of letters and numbers. Do not use information that may be easily discovered by identity thieves

Here are ways to protect against identity theft:

• Guard your personal information, especially your Social Security number and other common identifying information like your mother's maiden name.

• Keep all credit card receipts and dispose of them properly.

• Guard your trash and your mail. Identity thieves often steal "pre-approved" credit card letters from mailboxes. Tear these up and cut them into pieces. Also do this with any unsolicited credit cards you receive.

• Don't give your credit card number to anyone over the phone or Internet unless you know whom you're dealing with.

• Limit the number of credit cards you carry with you.

• Keep your wallet or purse in a safe place at work.