Tip 1: Protect your paper documents

Paper mails, credit card bills, and other documents should be filed and kept in a safe place far away from the preying eyes of predators (identity thieves). Do not give your documents to someone you cannot trust completely.

Tip 2: Do not get phished

A phishing email is one of the tools used by identity thieves to steal your data. These e-mails generally ask for your username and passwords and even personal data. Be on the look for such mails. Do not rush to give your details as soon as you see any mail from your bank asking for such details. More often that email is a phishing email, with which bank has nothing to do.

Tip 3: Fortify your system

Install antivirus with real-time scanning capability. Also install a firewall to protect anyone intruding in your system without your notice. You should also install manual Trojan, spyware, malware, and other scanners, which you should run at least once a week and check your system.

Start with installing the required protection on the PC. You do not necessarily need to spend money on these. There are lots of free tools available for that.

Which is why, if a company claiming to be a charity for Haiti contacts you about making a donation, check with the better business bureau.  They will have information on every legitimate charity, and that will tell you everything you need to know about whether or not you should donate with that company.  Although the best strategy is usually to stick to the larger charitable organizations.  Donating to charities like the Red Cross and UNICEF is the best way to guarantee that your money is actually going where you want it to.

Also, it’s best to always donate through the charity themselves.  Don’t trust a website or email that claims to offer the ability to give to the Red Cross yourself.  Always go to the website by typing the address into your browser’s address bar.  That way you can be sure every time, that the website is legitimate, and your identity won’t be stolen.

If you’d like resources to find charities that you can donate money or items to, try trustworthy websites like Charity Navigator.  With a site like that you can find a wide variety of legitimate charities, as well as the information you’ll need to make donations.  Never give money when solicited from a source that you don’t trust, and always double check to make sure you know where your money is going.

Any passwords that you save to your iPhone can be recovered by a skilled thief.  The way that the phone’s memory works makes it almost impossible to completely erase the data on an iPhone.  So just tossing that old phone into the trash is not the best strategy.  Rather, you should destroy the iPhone yourself.  Make sure that you carefully, and safely destroy the unit, so that no salvageable pieces are left.

A good tactic for avoiding this sort of trouble altogether is to make sure no passwords are stored in your phone.  Change the settings so that you are required to enter a password every time you use your email, or an online purchasing function, etc.  Sure it’s slightly less convenient, but in the long run it could save your identity.  Leaving vital information like passwords in your iPhone’s memory is just asking for trouble.

You also have to consider if the unit is stolen.  A thief has easy access to every function you have access to.  So protect your information, put in passwords every time necessary, and don’t store too much personal information on your phone.  Never save a record of your social security number, or other such information, anywhere in your phone.  That’s just asking for trouble.

Don’t make it easy for a thief.  Don’t save passwords, destroy your phone when you upgrade to a new one, and always guard your information carefully.  That’s really the only way to stay safe, and protect your identity from being stolen.

I’ve written about the risks of spyware before, but it’s something that you absolutely need to be concerned about.  Spyware is exactly as it sounds, a program that’s downloaded to your computer without your knowledge to spy on your computer activities.  The program then reports back to it’s source regarding your information.  This is a way that many ID thieves operate.  You can protect yourself by keeping your antivirus programs up to date, and not visiting websites that you don’t trust.

Email is another key area where identity thieves operate.  Through email scamming they try to attain access to your personal information by posing as someone else.  Whether posing as a person you may know, or a bank that you do business with, they will try to get your information.  That’s why you should never send personal information through an email.  A bank will never ask for your personal account info in that way, so don’t trust an email asking you for that information.

Also be wary of opening an email from someone you don’t know.  Many identity thieves send out emails that download viruses and spyware to your computer when you open them.  So if you don’t know the sender, it’s best to just delete the message, for your safety.

Criminals also use fake websites that make attempts to sell you merchandise at very low prices.  The websites offer great products at very low prices, promising great value for money.  In the end you give them your credit card and address information, and in return you get no merchandise, but instead you have your identity stolen.  So research a site before you make purchases.  Users always sniff out the fakes and post about them online, doing your research could save you a huge hassle.

Finally, dating websites are another huge haven for identity thieves.  They pose as a someone looking for companionship, then lure you to give out some personal information.  Then they pounce and use that information against you.  Which is why, once again, don’t give out any info easily, or to anyone you don’t trust.  Part of the reason identity thieves are thriving these days is because people are so willing to give out information.  Be a little more cautious, and in return you’ll be much more safe.

Identity thieves typically look to find your name and the area in which you live.  That usually gives them a good starting point to finding out enough about you to steal your identity.  Which is why it’s common sense to protect that information on a social networking site.  Most sites offer you the ability to hide your full name to those just browsing the site.  But allow you to register with your full name so that a person you know will be able to find you through a search.  Take advantage of this ability, so that your full name is never displayed to anyone besides the people you actually know.

Avoid any email from a person you don’t know via social networking that asks for personal information.  Even if the email looks like it’s from a site administrator.  Never give out information in an email unless you absolutely trust the source, as nine times out of ten it’s a scam.

Try to use social networking sites wisely.  Don’t just add anyone that is asking to be your friend.  Try to restrict your page to people you actually know.  Many times an identity thief will ask to be added to your friends list so that they may gain access to your more personal information.  Avoid this simply by not accepting any friend request from a person that you don’t know.

You really need to have a fairly keen interpretation of common sense when using the internet.  Anything that promises a lot of money quick, that’s a scam.  Anything that promises a service completely free of charge, but just needs a credit card number for verification, that’s a scam.  Any email you get that claims someone needs your help involving money, and it’s not from a person you know and trust, that’s a scam.  You get the idea.

Protecting your information is as simple as knowing when and where to give that information.  The internet can really only take from you what you give to be taken.  If you’re smart about your address, name, and other personal information, you’ll find you don’t get spammed uncontrollably.  Which is why you should limit your personal info to instances where it’s absolutely needed.  Like if you do any online banking, they will need your personal info obviously.  Or credit card companies that you conduct business with online, they would also need personal info.  But try to limit your use only to sources you absolutely trust with that information.

One more example of keeping common sense in mind comes with those secure sources you trust.  Never give away personal information in an email, unless you absolutely trust the source.  Because banks and credit card companies are well aware of the many scams that line the internet, they have evolved so that they will never ask for your personal information in an email.  Any email claiming to be from a bank or credit card provider that asks you to respond with personal info is a scam, so don’t respond!

Keep your internet virus protection software up to date, often scan your system, and use common sense when surfing, and you should be just fine.

1. Avoid revealing personal information in mails:- This is extremely important. You may receive lots of email on a daily basis asking you to provide your personal information in the form of credit card applications or bank statements. This method involves a high amount of risk as most of your personal information gets sold out in exchange of mails. Ensure that you opt for electronic facility where your bank statements can be transferred to you electronically.
2. Avoid using a debit card online: – You must understand that when you use a debit card in place of a credit card you are opening yourself to potential risk of identity thefts. With debit card you are providing an opportunity for hackers and other unscrupulous persons online to steal your account information and withdraw all the funds in your bank account in a flash.
3. Avoid the use of checks:-  A check reveals both your bank account number as well as the routing number and can be used easily by criminals and hackers to drain your bank accounts totally. A credit card offers greater protection; therefore avoid using checks online to make any purchases.
4. Virtual Credit cards: There are one time use credit cards and are more secure and helpful in making online purchases than regular credit cards.
5. Keep a record of your personal information in an organized manner: You must record and keep track of all your bank account, credit card and debit card, social security numbers. Also keep photocopies of your driving license and social security card so that you can have a backup in case you lose them. So follow these strategies to ensure that you never become a victim of identity theft.