1. Safeguard your photo id, passport, social security cards and financial documents.
2. Burn or use a cross-cut shredder to destroy documents that have your name, address, social security number, bank account number, credit card number, utility account number, basically any document that has any personal information about you on it.
3. Review your credit reports regularly
4. Limit the number of credit cards you have and carefully check your statement each month.
5. Don’t give your personal information to any business unless you have to do so. The only businesses that NEED your social security number are banks, financial institutions, lenders, and prospective employers.
6. If you find that you are a victim of identity theft, notify your financial institution immediately. In addition, report these incidents to the fraud hotlines for the three major credit bureaus:
Equifax 1-800-525-6285 or www.equifax.com
Experian 1-888-397-3742 or www.experian.com
Transunion 1-800-680-7289 or www.transunion.com
7. Get an insurance policy that covers identity theft
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