1. If it can at all be avoided, try not to write a personal check to someone you don’t know. Use cash, a money order or cashiers check instead. The account information on your check can be used to withdraw money from your account without your permission. Not using personal checks is one step you can take to when it comes to credit identity theft protection.

2. One common way to steal your identity is to go through your trash, so criminals can find out about you without having to break into your home. Use a paper shredder to destroy anything that has personal information on it. Use a fraud alert to help with identity theft monitoring if you feel you have been a victim of identity theft.

3. Many financial institutions allow you to enroll in paperless statements, which means you receive your statements electronically instead of via the postal service. There is nothing stopping someone from stealing your mail and getting valuable information about your financial accounts, but this is impossible if you receive statements electronically. Reduce the amount of mail you receive is one step to take when it comes to stolen identity protection.

4. Opt out of getting checks that are connected to your credit card. If a thief gets their hands on this, it is very easy for them to write a check and cash it, stealing money right out of your account. Do what you can to protect your identity such as using the services of an identity theft protection company.

5. Sign the back of your credit cards. Someone accepting a credit card from you should compare the signature on the card to your signature on a piece of identification, ensuring you are really the person that is authorized to use the charge card.

7. Stop getting pre-approved credit card offers. It is a simple exercise for a criminal to use the information on these offers to open up the pre-approved credit in your name, but have it sent to them. Credit identity theft is an issue that you need to be aware of and is one reason to consider using identity theft protection services.

Don’t use public computers to conduct any sort of online banking. Don’t check your credit card or bank account balance on a computer that you are not 100% sure is secure. Identity thieves regularly put snooping software on public computers to steal your log on credentials. Consider using a protect identity service to better control the use of your personal information.

Learn more about how to protect your identity.