How to Avoid Identity Theft

Identity Theft is a recent phenomenon. Globally, over 500,000 people are victims of this crime each year. The best protection always is prevention. Here are some tips to safeguard your good name: BEWARE Any document that has personal financial information on it can give an identity thief a foothold into your life. Put the charge slip copies in a safe spot until your credit card bills arrive. After you've reconciled your bill, shred every statement, in?cluding credit card re?ceipts, old bank statements, medical statements, every?day bills and pre-approved credit card offers. 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. Monitor your credit accounts carefully, so you'll know if a bill's missing or unauthorised purchases have been made. Close out unused credit cards. Cutting them up is not enough. Limit the number of credit cards you carry. The fewer cards you have, the easier it is to track them. If you're moving, contact all your creditors and update them of your address changes immediately. You don't want credit in?f ormation and new credit cards being delivered to the wrong address. If your credit card expires and you don't receive a new one, call your creditor immediately. Don't provide your credit card number to anyone who con?tacts you through telephone solicitation. Make sure any online credit card charges are handled through a secure site or in an encrypted mode. You'll know you're on a secure site if the web page on which you conduct your trans?action begins with 'https' instead of the usual 'http'. Only shop on websites that offer a privacy policy. Know how your personal information will be handled. Print out privacy policies, warranties, price guarantees and other important information. Be watchful of shoulder-surfers. At ATMs and phone booths, thieves will stand close enough to see PIN num?bers punched in by users.