Preventive
Measures
 You
should be taking care of your identity on a regular basis
just as you take care of your health.
Some routine activities you do every day, like brushing your
teeth and taking vitamins. The same goes for preventive measures
against identity theft.
Other more serious measures must
be taken once or twice a year, like getting dental check-ups
and an annual physical examination. On the following pages
are some steps to follow to help protect your identity.
Changing Your Daily
Routines 
Anything with an account number, even old
ones, can be used in identity theft. This can include pre-screened
credit card offers, receipts, cancelled checks, bank statements,
tax reports, expired charge cards, medical bills, and insurance
documents. Since several identity theft cases are traced
to having a purse or wallet being lost or stolen, carry as
few cards with identification and personal information as
much as possible.
Credit & Finances
What many people do not realize is that they
are victims of identity theft until long after the initial
crime occurred. Identity thieves will surely try to hide
the crimes for as long as possible so that they can access
more money and services. To stop the crimes quickly, make
sure you carefully check your credit reports on a regular
basis.
Online Security
If you store personal information (such as
passwords or credit card numbers) on your computer or personal
digital assistant, use an encryption program to protect it.
Keep an electronic record, like a writable CD, of the sensitive
information and store it in a secure place whenever you are
not using it.
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Security Tip: