Identity theft affects nearly 10 million Americans ever year. Thieves usually go for easy targets, people who do not protect their personal data well. The best way to fight identity theft is to be proactive and make it as difficult as possible to steal your sensitive information.

Preventing Identity Theft

• Protect your social security number (SSN). Your social security number is one of the most crucial pieces of personal information the government and companies use for verification. To keep your SSN safe: don't carry it around with you in case you lose your wallet; don't pre-print your SSN on checks; and avoid giving your SSN out even for identification if at all possible.
• Be cautious on the telephone. Telephone scams dupe thousands of people into releasing personal information that will later be used for identity theft. Aggressive callers offer luxurious prizes, vacations and other enticing gifts that can only be received if you "act now." To prevent these scams, never release personal information to suspicious callers, ask callers to place you on their do not call list, and do not be fooled by "act now" scams.
• Protect sensitive information on your computer.. The first step to safeguarding your computer is to install antivirus software. You should memorize your passwords but If you need to store them somewhere, write them on paper and put them in a safe place - do not store them electronically on your computer. Also, do not respond to e-mails prompting personal information or disclose personal information on questionable websites.
• Guard your credit cards. A safe practice for credit card use is to require photo identification. This will make a stolen credit card more difficult to use. Also, store all your credit card information in a protected place so that you can cancel stolen credit cards quickly.
• Destroy sensitive information Your trash is a thieves treasure. It contains personal information from credit card offers, ATM or bank statements and credit card statements. Purchasing and shredder and destroying all mail and statements that contain personal information can help prevent identity theft.

Being proactive to protect your personal information can prevent identity theft but isn't a guarantee you won't be a victim. You should check your credit report at least once a year to make sure there isn't any fraudulent activity. You should also report suspicious activity if you discover something unusual and notify the authorities. The best way to fight identity theft is to guard your personal information and to closely monitor your credit report for suspicious activity.