Be skeptical. Often information you think would be useless to a thief, such as your age, can inevitably be used against you to create fraudulent credit card accounts in your name. You will no doubt fill out many applications in your life, whether it is employment, banking related or just to bring your cat to the vet; but how much information do these people really need? Does your vet really need to know your social security number? I think not. Do you need to give out your driver’s license number to buy a book online? I doubt it. Be skeptical of companies and persons who are making strange requests for information that they obviously do not need; a lot of times it is not a legitimate person and you could become a victim of identity theft.
Watch your credit report. Keep a heads-up on your credit report; you can obtain a credit report every year for free by Federal Law and it will not hurt your score to find out what has been happening in your credit life. Make sure you keep your credit cards safe and secure; receipts can seem meaningless, but even having just a few numbers of your card in the wrong hands can turn your life into a nightmare because of identity theft. The safest place for your credit information is with you. Do not put credit card numbers on any checks or envelopes or other papers that can easily be passed through the hands of dishonest persons. Preventing identity theft does not have to be so laborious; just keep your personal safety in mind.
Keep an eye on your credit cards. When dining at a restaurant, pay attention to who handles the credit card you've given them and how it's rang up. Though it is not as common as other methods, some unsuspecting people have had their credit card numbers and information stolen by dubious waiters/waitresses; after all, you've just given them everything they need to steal your identity. ...
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Author: Jason Kay