Limit your identification documents to those you need to carry.
Do not carry your Social Security card in your wallet. Also, limit the number of credit and debit cards in your wallet to those you need.
Make photocopies of the front and back of vital information that you carry regularly.
Store them in a secure place. If your purse or wallet is stolen, you have the contact information and account numbers available.
Tear or shred sensitive items
These include charge receipts, copies of credit applications or offers, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, and expired credit cards. Cross-cut shredders are preferred.
Secure any personal information in your home
Keep your Social Security card in a secure location and only give your Social Security number when necessary. If possible, attempt to use other types of identifiers.
Avoid using easily obtainable information for passwords.
This includes using your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number, or your phone number. Request to use another password instead.
Be careful when providing personal information
Don't give out your personal information over the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you initiated the contact or are sure you know who you are dealing with.
Review accounts and reconcile statements on monthly/daily basis
Periodically review your credit report to ensure that it is correct. Requests can be made using the credit bureaus' contact information listed below.
Guard your mail and trash from theft
Use secured post office boxes for outgoing mail, and promptly remove mail from your mailbox after it has been delivered. Report lost or stolen cards or checks immediately. Cancel unused credit cards, and store cancelled checks securely. Do not preprint personal information (driver's license #, telephone # or social security #) on your checks.