Preventing identity theft starts with you

We all want to keep our personal and financial information safe from identity thieves. But are you unknowingly making it easy for thieves to get the information they need to steal your identity? Here are some easy and effective ways to safeguard your information and help prevent ID theft:

• Carry as little information as possible with you. Do you really need to carry five credit cards in your purse or wallet? Above all, avoid carrying your social security card and/or passport in your purse every day.
• Limit the amount of personal information you provide. Avoid giving out  personal information unless you have initiated the contact or are sure you know who you are dealing with.
• Proceed with caution when shopping online. Use only authenticated websites to conduct business online. Before submitting personal or financial information through a website, check for the locked padlock image on your browser’s status bar or look for “https://” (rather than http://) in your browser window.
• Keep close tabs on your accounts. Review your bank and credit card statements to make sure all transactions are accurate. With online access, you can check your accounts as often as you wish! If you suspect a problem, contact your credit card company or bank immediately.
• Shred documents before they end up in the trash. Keep a shredder handy to safely dispose of personal information such as credit card numbers, bank statements, charge receipts or credit card applications.