How to Keep Your Personal Identity Safe

There are articles and shows everyday that speak about the pitfalls of identity theft. There are many ways that scam artists can get a hold of your personal information. Identity theft can ruin your credit rating. It can also be a hassle to try and clear up any case of identity theft that may appear on your credit report. The best thing to do is to avoid identity theft be keeping your personal identity safe.

Instructions

1

Shred all paperwork before you put it in the trash. Many people shred some of their documents before they put it in the trash. To truly keep your personal identity safe it is best to shred everything. Scam artists can use any bill of yours to get personal information that they will use to steal your identity.

2

Give out your personal information over the phone only if you initiated the phone call. Many scam artists will call your home posing as one of your utility companies trying to update their records. You can give personal information over the phone if you are sure of the person that you are talking to on the other end. The best way to do this to keep your personal identity safe is to do this when you have made the call.

3

Lock your social security card in a steel box and keep it at home. There is a misconception that you should carry your social security card on you. To prevent identity theft, it is better to keep your social security card in a safe place at home. If your wallet or purse was ever lost or stolen, your personal identity would be available to whoever would find it to do as they deem fit.