Sharing your personal information with untrustworthy people or companies exposes you to all types of fraud and theft, not just those relating to your personal identity. Read the practical tips below to lower your risk of becoming a victim.

• Keep a record of your account numbers, their expiration dates, and the phone number and address of each company in a secure place.
  
• Use a paper shredding machine to shred all sensitive paperwork. Be sure to purchase the type that utilizes cross cut particles rather than confidential strips as the strips can be easily reassembled by an identity thief. You can find shredders on the internet or at most office supply stores.
  
• When disposing of personal records, keep in mind that documents that should be shredded include bank statements, credit card statements, investment account statements, income tax returns, and any other documents that include your social security number, account information, or other personal information.
  
• Utilize passwords whenever possible and use an alphanumeric system (i.e., combination of numbers and letters) and choose a distinct password to ensure your password is impossible to guess and difficult to crack. Create a system for periodically changing your passwords such as adding 5 digits to the number and using a new word.
  
• Try to avoid writing personally-identifiable information on your checks such as telephone number. Never include your social security number as preprinted information on your check or give your social security number to a clerk to write on your check.
  
• Be wary of fake job postings on online career web sites. The people who set up these postings use them as a method to gather personal information under the guise of needing the information for a background check. Therefore, you should wait until you have an in-person interview prior to sharing your social security number, etc.
  
• Do not provide personally identifiable information to people who call you. If you are offered an unsolicited deal and the caller is requesting information you are not comfortable providing, ask for a written application form. You should only provide such information if you made the call and if you trust the party you are calling.
  
• Do not store your passwords or account numbers on personal handheld devices (PDAs) or cell phones.
  
• When you're on vacation, don't allow your mail to collect in your mailbox while you're gone. Have a family member or friend retrieve the mail daily or utilize the Hold Mail Service at the post office which allows your mail to be held between 3 and 30 days. This can be done in person, via the phone (1-800-ASK-USPS) or on the USPS website. You can also view and print the .pdf version of the form by clicking here.
  
• Maintain copies of your bank statements and checks for at least one year in case you need them for a dispute. But keep in mind that most banks only give you 60 days from the date of the statement for you to contact them about any errors.
  
• If you have a personal web site, avoid putting sensitive and/or personal information that an identity thief could use to his/her benefit.
  
• Never carry your social security card in your purse or wallet. Instead, memorize your social security number. However, be very hesitant about providing it to third parties.
  
• Do not carry non-essential credit or charge cards with you in your purse or wallet.
  
• Be very protective of your birth certificate.
  
• Don't write any account codes on postcards or on the outside of envelopes you send your monthly payments in.
  
• Drop your mail (especially bill payments) off at a secure location such as the Post Office or at a dropbox. Avoid sending it from home and leaving it in your mailbox awaiting pick-up by the mailperson.
  
• When you receive unsolicited email by a company or individual you don't recognize, avoid clicking on the "Remove Me" link that's provided, which often serves as a way for the solicitor to determine which email addresses are active and which are not so that more solicitations can be sent to the active accounts.
  
• To help keep email spam contained, set up one email address for legitimate personal or business use and one for online transactions, online registration, etc., the latter of which will likely generate the spam.
  
• Get information from the Better Business Bureau web site about businesses that have been the subject of complaints.
  
• Look into theft warranties and insurance. Many companies offer insurance coverage for varying types of identity theft.
  
• Request to get a PIN (Personal Identification Number) to associate with your accounts for additional security.

Note: The information on this page is excerpted from ID-Theft Protector 2005. This comprehensive software includes more tips on prevention and tools to follow up on many of the suggestions made here. Click here for more information on ID-Theft Protector 2005.