subject: Top Tips For Keeping Your Personal Information Safe [print this page] It is possible to take steps to substantially minimize the risk of your identity being stolen. It is worth taking the time to learn about and to follow those steps because they can save you a lot of hassle in the long run.
The most important thing you can do to protect your identity is to be aware of the privacy policy of any company you are dealing with. This even includes seemingly well-established companies such as banks and home insurance providers.
Then, look at the circumstances in which you are prepared to give up your personal information. It is always safer to give your details to people that you contact, rather than those who approach you and ask for it, particularly in the street or over the telephone.
You should look to put passwords on as many of your accounts as possible, ensuring that they can not easily be figured out (i.e. dates of births, childrens names, etc.) and that you do not use always use the same password. By doing so, even if your details are used fraudulently, the amount of use that they will be to others will be severely limited.
When it comes to buying home insurance, avoiding having your identity stolen is even easier, as you can simply bypass the online procedure by working directly with an independent agent. As an added bonus, by having an agent do the legwork for you, you can get the most affordable quotes without having to give your information to a slew of different sites.
Also, keep in mind that a lot of personal information is fraudulently acquired through documents (bank statements, utility bills, etc.) that are simply thrown away. Therefore, investing in a document shredder for your home is something that you should seriously consider.
So, to summarize, the best advice for avoiding identity theft is to not make yourself an easy target. Be aware of what you are doing with your personal information at all times, and you can keep the thieves at bay and your identity safe and sound.
Top Tips For Keeping Your Personal Information Safe
