5 Ways to Keep Your Identity Safe

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Identity theft is an increasingly common problem and it is extremely important to protect yourself. One of the simplest things you can do is to get an unlisted phone number. Most people don’t realize it, but many phone companies sell their customer information - names, addresses, and even calling records to people willing to pay them for it.

This can put you at risk of having your identity stolen because the more places your personal information is stored, the greater the chance of it being ripped off.

Using a post office box is another option. By having your bills and statements sent to a post office box, you’ll be safer from criminals who steal these things out of people’s mailboxes. It can also keep you safer from people who want to connect your name and address by researching your utility bills. A post office box will help shield your physical address.

When you’re at the post office, take the opportunity to mail your bill payments and other letters from there. This will eliminate the chance of them being stolen from the mailbox before they’re picked up by the mailman.

This is a common method used by identity thieves, but can easily be avoided by ensuring you never put anything containing personal information in your local mailbox.

Don’t ever put your phone number, social security number or any other private data on your checks. Your name and address (your PO box address, remember?) should be all that is printed on them. Some stores ask you for this information but it isn’t required if you show them the proper identification. Many businesses are using electronic check verification now anyway so don’t ever give out your personal information.

Your social security number is particularly important to safeguard. Even if companies request it, don’t give it to them unless they’re using it to run a credit check. Again, limiting the number of places that have this information limits the chances of it being stolen.

When applying for a job, don’t give your social security number until and unless you are hired. Gaining access to social security numbers stored in files is a common way of identity theft as well so make sure only companies that are secure and don’t share customer information have access to your number.