How to make your ID harder to steal

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Identity theft is running rampant in our nation. Here are 8 tips on how to make your ID harder to steal.

Never give someone access to your accounts

• Keep user names or passwords for online accounts to yourself
• Don’t let someone else “borrow” your card or be an authorized user
• NEVER tell anyone your debit card’s PIN number

Keep your computer clean

• Check for viruses
• Use a firewall at home
• Use a VPN when in public. Spotflux.com is a free program for Windows and Mac

Don’t click on web links

• Don’t let them get through your firewall with a “Is this you in the picture” or “someone is  saying nasty things about you on Twitter”
• Verify with the person who sent the message that they indeed sent you a message

Tear off address labels

• Remove labels from mail and packages
• Shred blank application
• Remove all inserts from magazines and catalogs that may contain your address

Get a PO Box

• Have mail saved for you in a place more secure than a metal box on your curb
• This could also make it more difficult for someone to find your address
• Ensures you place outgoing mail in approved locales only

Opt-out

• Reduce the amount of mail (and the amount of labels to shred)
• Keeps unnecessary and tempting offers away from your eyes
• Official site: http://OptOutPreScreen.com
• For a video-tutorial, visit MoneyPlanSOS.com/Opt-Out

Freeze credit reports

• Nobody can see your report, even you
• Cost is $5-$10 per report
• Experian http://www.experian.com/consumer/security_freeze.html
• Transunion http://www.transunion.com/personal-credit/credit-disputes/credit-freezes.page
• Equifax https://www.freeze.equifax.com/Freeze/jsp/SFF_PersonalIDInfo.jsp

Don’t fill out “Enter-to-win” stuff

• You are more susceptible to phishing and scams when entering dozens of giveaways, unless you keep track of every one that you complete.

These steps can not guarantee your ID will never be stolen – how many times have you used your debit or credit card and the cashier never even looked to see if the back was signed? But following these common-sense tips can help make your ID harder for someone to steal.