Some helpful tips to protect against identity theft

During the holidays, it is easy to drop your guard and find yourself a victim of the ever increasing risk of Identify Fraud. Don’t wait to become a victim. There are actions you can take that can lessen the risk of being defrauded. You can further protect yourself by purchasing Identify Fraud Insurance, a type of insurance policy that pays to help you put your life back together after  being defrauded.

Below are some simple tips that can help lower your chances of being a victim!

1. Shred any papers that have your name, address and account numbers on them, especially credit card, debit card and bank account information.
2. Don’t leave credit cards or checkbooks lying around. Some experts say we are most likely to be victimized by friends and relatives. 
3. Don’t put outgoing bills in your mailbox and never put the flag up for collection. This is a signal for thieves who can drive by and steal from your mailbox.
4. Secure your home internet connection with encryption, especially if you do a lot of online shopping. 
5. Don’t click on links in emails that come to you unsolicited from retailers. Most of these are phishes, or fraudulent emails, which will take you to a fake website where crooks can steal any information you enter.

Have a safe and happy holiday season!