Understand the Threat. Identity theft is easier and more common than you think. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. Everyone is a potential victim. Thieves can steal your personal information, steal your mail, obtain credit cards in your name, intercept your online banking information, and wreak havoc on your finances. Victims of identity theft may lose out on job opportunities or be denied loans for education, housing, or cars because of negative information on their credit reports. In rare cases, they may even be arrested for crimes they did not commit.

Disclose Personal Information Cautiously. Don’t divulge your Social Security number, age, or birth date without asking why this information is being requested and refusing if the reason isn’t justifiable. Most requests for such information aren’t necessary.

Remove Your Social Security Number from All Documents You Carry. In the case of your driver’s license, forms are available from your local motor vehicle department to request that your Social Security number be removed. You can have the number removed from your employer’s group insurance card’s face and provide it orally to the physician’s office staff when necessary.

Review Your Credit Report Each Year. Examine it for unusual entries, and if you find any, contact the reporting company and demand that the inaccurate information be removed. In addition, examine the credit report and identify credit cards that are still “in force” but seldom or never used. Contact the companies and close these accounts. Upon stealing your identity, a thief could use these inactive accounts to run up bills. In today’s electronic age, a single credit card is probably sufficient for most consumers. Keep a backup card at home in a secure location.

Establish an Alternate Web Persona. If you are going to take advantage of Internet commerce and Web surfing, obtain a post office box as an alternative mailing address for online correspondence with individuals or companies you do not know. Software programs (such as Onion Routing or Crowds) hide your IP address and provide proxy-like protection as well as preserve your anonymity.

Don’t Complete Product Warranty or Registration Forms. The information supplied on these cards is often sold to third parties, which resell it again and again. Reliable companies will honor your request to replace or repair a damaged product; your refusal to complete a warranty or registration card should make no difference.

Review Your Social Security Earnings Record. Is all of the information in your file and on your earnings statement accurate and complete? Do the total year-to-date earnings figure and Social Security contribution amount appear logical and within an acceptable range—equivalent to the number of years you have been working? If you find an error, contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213, or visit their Web site at www.ssa.gov. Someone at the Social Security Administration will be glad to assist you in correcting any potential mistake you identify on your statement.

Shred Preapproved Credit Card Applications. Do so manually or via an electric crosscut shredder, not a strip shredder. Tossing them into the trash is simply inviting someone to complete them with their appropriate information.

Pick up New Checks at Your Bank. Do not let your bank send new checks to an unsecured curbside mailbox. If you do not have a post office box or a third-party lock box, have the new checks sent to your local branch office and pick them up there. Checks should not have a preprinted phone number, Social Security number, driver’s license number, or any other personal information not required by your financial institution. This information can be added manually, if it is required.

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