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These days everyone should all be worried about identity theft, so the necessary precautions should be taken to make sure our identities are secure. Only you are truly bothered about the security of your identity, so make sure you are using common sense to ensure you don’t fall victim to ID theft. You may also consider making use of an identity fraud protection service.

Because it is in your control to make sure your identity is safe, you should consider following the below tips. You might also want to consider making use of a identity theft security plan.

1. Security of mail: The mail you receive daily most likely contains a lot of personal information. Included in this are statements from financial institutions and applications for credit cards which all can be used to steal your identity. Consider opting out of receiving credit card applications and start to receive your bank statements delivered electronically, so that you eliminate a lot of your personal data from the regular mail.

2. Use a debit card in place of credit card: Whenever your debit card is used as a credit card, you are opening yourself up to have your account information get into the hands of a criminal. Remember that purchases made with your debit card cause money to come out of your bank account very quickly, so if you fall victim to a criminal, your bank account could be emptied in a flash. Think about using a regular charge card so funds aren’t taken directly from your bank account.

3. Check writing: When you write a check to buy something, you are putting out your checking account number and routing number for anybody to see. This is sometimes all a criminal needs in order to steal from you. Stop writing checks - use a credit card or pay electronically.

4. Temporary credit cards: These days many banks and financial institutions are giving their customers the option to use virtual credit cards. These are issued as a one-time use credit card number that is then used to make purchases like a normal credit card. This keeps the actual credit card numbers out of the hands of thieves.

5. Copy personal information: It is always a good idea to keep a copy of all of your financial institution account numbers, which will include your credit card numbers. You should also keep duplicates of important personal documents such as your drivers license and anything else of importance. You will need these copies if you ever find that any of these documents are lost, or if someone ever steals your identity.

If you follow the tips outlined above, you will have taken steps to ensure you are protecting your identity. Another step you should consider is to subscribe to a Trusted ID service. This will assist in making sure your identity is secure so that you are never faced with being a victim of identity theft.

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