How many people do you know that have been a victim of some sort of identity theft. I personally know of someone dear to me who was a victim and it's not fun.  It has been said that every 2 seconds, someone has become a victim of identity theft. Here are 5 ways to protect yourself and avoid being the next victim.

  1. Pay Cash - Avoid carrying around a check book. It's better to use a credit card and/or a debit card of some kind. Just make sure that you have the proper protections on those cards, should they be stolen or lost.
  2. Paper Shredder - Instead of throwing sensitive mail and documents out, it's best to shred them. Buy a good paper shredder that will demolish any documents that could be used to steal your identity or other personal information.
  3. Store Your Social Security Card - It's best not to carry your Social Security card with you. This is a number that should be fairly simple to memorize. Keep your card in a safe place elsewhere.
  4. FREE Public Wi-Fi - This can be a real blessing, but can also be a real curse should you become a victim of theft. Scammers can easily steal your personal information if you're logged on to an unsecured network. Before signing on to a public Wi-Fi docket, check with the employees to ensure it is a secured network.
  5. Unique Passwords - Whether it's your laptop, notebook or smart phone, make sure you have passwords that are not easily cracked. Keep them long and change them up with capital letters, numbers and icons.

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