Identity theft is by far the fastest growing crime in America. As technology gets more sophisticated, so have the criminals. Millions of people are scammed out of their money every year by identity thieves. And the trend is not slowing down any. The following are five easy tips you can follow to prevent reduce the chances of identity theft happening to you. Keep in mind, sometimes identity theft is unavoidable as a result of our use of personal information to buy products and services almost on a daily basis. But you can definitely take steps to reduce the risk. By taking the steps below, you will certainly reduce your risk of having your identity stolen by a large amount.

1. Be wary of people near you, especially those who look like they are snooping. These are people who like to always glance at what you are doing. Also, be aware of your surroundings when you are working in public. Try to have a protective screen whenever necessary. I am especially careful in library because I am connected to a public network and there are a vast amount of people there.

2. Destroy all sensitive data, paper or digital. If it is a paper document, shred it until it is unrecognizable. If it is digital, thoroughly erase all information. If you are not giving it away or selling it, I recommend destroying the hard drive with a hammer. If you are giving away your computer or selling it, always use top of the line software to wipe your data completely. Experts recommend going over your data twice to make sure nothing is left on.

3. Always protect your digital devices (such as laptops and phones) with a password. Internet access is abundant and so you definitely do not want unwarranted access to your stuff. Speaking of which, also always protect your home network with a firewall and a password. People who pry on open networks can steal personal information on your system. On my mobile phone, I have a password to unlock the phone and another password to unlock my sensitive apps.

4. Have an alarm system. Even a sign that you have a home security system is usually a good deterrent as thieves are very wary of houses with security system. Once the alarm goes off, they have to make a run for it or else they will get caught. Alarm systems usually take awhile to disarm and so are often-times not worth it.

5. Sign up for a credit monitoring service such as MyFico. They will alert you of any odd transactions or anything new on your credit. Also, sign up for fraud protection with your credit card and bank if they don’t already provide one for you. They come in very handy as they will alert you of odd activity on your account. Also make sure you have fraud protection on all your credit and debit cards.

By using the tips I posted above, you can largely decrease the chance of having your identity stolen and your credit profile ruined. Remember, the biggest repercussion of a stolen identity is the lasting effect it has on your credit. So save yourself the hassle and protect yourself because it is a big hassle having to repair your credit profile after an identity theft. Use the tips above and it will greatly reduce your chances of having your credit ruined and your identity stolen.

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