- Check your wallet and if you don’t need all those cards, don’t carry them. Find somewhere safer to store them like a safe in your home or at your bank. If your wallet is stolen, you will still have some pieces of identification to help prove who you are.
- Check your wallet and remove any notes containing personal identification numbers (PINS).
- Photocopy important identification cards when you get them. Keep the photocopies in a safety deposit box or hidden at home (if you don’t have a photocopier available you can just write down the numbers).
- Pay by cash. Paying with cash (and leaving your credit and debit cards at home) is a great way to assure your privacy. It also helps with money management.
- Know your credit card or debit card company’s policies on identity theft.
- Sign all of your cards. If you notice that your signature has worn off, get the card replaced as soon as possible.
- Don’t reveal important numbers over the phone. No legitimate credit card company will ask you to reveal the 3-digit security code on the back of your card – if someone calls asking you for this, you should hang up or report the phone call to the police.
- Shred papers that contain your personal information before throwing them out.
- Investigate whether identity theft insurance is right for you.
- Shop only at secure web sites.
- Use a personal firewall.
- Don’t reply to or click on links in emails asking for bank account or credit card numbers. Delete them instead.
Where can I find an identity theft prevention checklist?
