Top 10 Ways to Guard against Identity Theft

Consumers today are well aware that having their identity stolen can be a financial and emotional disaster. Most know better than to give out PIN or credit card numbers over the phone or the Internet unless they are very sure who is on the other end of the line.
But, caution financial experts, there are other simple precautions consumers should take that are well worth a mention:
-Do not carry all your credit or identification cards in your wallet at one time. Take only what you expect to need during the day and keep the rest at home.
-When you do carry cards, do not keep them in the same case with your driver’s license or social security card.
-Keep a list of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home, along with issuer phone numbers in case you need to report a card missing.
-When traveling with a passport, take along a copy of it as well as a copy of your birth certificate.
-Keep your PC secured against spyware. Malicious programs can collect and send vital information to criminals without your knowledge.
-Don’t use obvious passwords on your accounts, such as birthdates or nicknames. Use a combination of letters and numbers that would be hard for a thief to guess.
-Change your account passwords every now and then, so that any break in security is short-lived.
-Do not display important identity details unnecessarily. Your social security number, medical insurance identification, driver's license, military identification and other such personal identity information should not be readily available where you study or work.
-Lock your mailbox. A bold identity thief can prolong his use of your stolen credit card until you realize your statement is missing.
-Be careful what goes out in the trash. Shred old credit cards and statements as well as any documents containing your medical account number or other information useful to an identity thief.