The Doors and Windows are locked - But.

Your identity can so easily be stolen By someone taking your name, credit card numbers, social security number or other types of information, and then using them to obtain services or credit in your name. It can ruin your credit and invade your privacy. This is legal information, not legal advice. For legal advice, you should always consult an attorney. But here is what you can do today: Order a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus. Place passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, etc. When opening new accounts, you may find that many businesses still have a line on their applications for your mother's maiden name. Use a password instead. Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help or are having service work done in your home. Ask about information security procedures in your workplace. Find out who has access to your personal information and verify that records are kept in a secure location. Ask about the disposal procedures for those records as well. Maintain Vigilance By checking your credit report on a regular basis you can catch mistakes and fraud before they wreak havoc on your personal finances. Don't underestimate the importance of this step. One of the most common ways that consumers find out that they're victims of identity theft is when they try to make a major purchase, like a house or a car. The deal can be lost or delayed while the credit report mess is straightened out. Knowing what's in your credit report allows you to fix problems before they jeopardize a major financial transaction. Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you've initiated the contact or are sure you know who you're dealing with. Identity thieves may pose as representatives of banks, Internet service providers (ISPs) and even government agencies to get you to reveal your , mother's maiden name, account numbers and other identifying information. Before you share any personal information, confirm that you are dealing with a legitimate organization. Guard your mail and trash from theft. To thwart an identity thief who may pick through your trash or recycling bins to capture your personal information, tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, expired charge cards that you're discarding, and credit offers you get in the mail. Before revealing any personally identifying information (for example, on an application), find out how it will be used and secured, and whether it will be shared with others. Ask if you have a choice about the use of your information. Can you choose to have it kept confidential? Don't carry your SSN card; leave it in a secure place. Give your SSN only when absolutely necessary. Ask to use other types of identifiers when possible. If your state uses your SSN as your driver's license number, ask to substitute another number. Carry only the identification information and the number of credit and debit cards that you'll actually need. Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks. Be wary of promotional scams. Identity thieves may use phony offers to get you to give them your personal information. Keep your purse or wallet in a safe place at work. Interested in this subject? Try this link for more of the same