Take Control of Your Identity

1. Enroll in Life Lock. The ultimate protection against identity theft you can receive is with Life Lock, the #1 leader in identity theft prevention. Life Lock also gives you a $1 million service guarantee if your identity if ever stolen as a Life Lock member.

2. Order all three free credit reports. Life Lock will help you take advantage of your free annual credit reports. Check them for any potential problems or inconsistencies.

3. Life Lock will help you opt out of unsolicited credit card offers. Because of the frequency of these offers, they often present an easy opportunity for thieves. This reduces the possibility of someone rifling through your mail and opening credit using your name.

4. Don’t let your mail sit in your mailbox. Junk mail, bank statements, bills, pre-approved credit offers, and W-2s all contain the personal information that a thief would need to impersonate you. Get your mail as soon as it’s delivered or have it delivered to a locked box.

5. Check your billing statements as soon as you receive them. Verify your monthly statement against your receipts. If you find a discrepancy, notify your bank or Credit Card Company immediately. Sometimes thieves will make insignificant purchases. If the small purchase is ignored and the account remains open, they will continue to make larger purchases.

6. Shred everything. All read mail should go through the shredder before it goes to the trash. Using a shredder on all of your personal documents makes the job more difficult for any would-be identity thief.

7. Beware of unsolicited emails asking for your sensitive personal information. By clicking on links contained in emails, not only are you directed to fake “official” Web sites that request your personal and financial information, officials also fear that it may automatically download malicious software designed to steal your passwords and other account information. To be on the safe side don’t open any Unsolicited emails and certainly never provide your information.

8. Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software. With modern technology, identity thieves can access your information without ever leaving their home from the convenience of their computer. Protect yourself with the latest anti-virus software.

9. Protect your Social Security number. Don’t carry your Social Security card with you or give out your Social Security number if it’s not necessary. If a business, doctor or financial institution asks for your social, ask why they need it and see if it’s possible to substitute another identifier. Never give out your information over the phone or Internet.