Identity theft prevention methods are essential for individuals to avoid being identity theft victims. It is estimated that in the last year itself, more than 10 million Americans became identity theft victims, resulting in losses amounting to 5 billion dollars. With the growth in software related scams notwithstanding, identity theft has become the fastest growing crime in America. Without exercising proper care, anyone can become a victim of identity theft.

It takes at least 12 months on an average for the clients to realize that they were cheated. Identity theft prevention is the best method of protecting information related to personal identity. First and foremost, segregate information, depending on their importance. While some information would be made public inevitably, there are some items having high sensitivity that can never be made public.

Below mentioned is the common information entered by the users and their sensitivity:-

Complete Name, Phone Number, Address – Low Sensitivity.
Mothers Name, Birthplace, Date of Birth – Medium Sensitivity.
PIN or Password, Credit Card Number, Bank Account Number, Social Security Number – High Sensitivity.

Prevention of personal information, especially the high sensitivity items are important in the protection against identity theft. A hacker or a criminal having knowledge of even one of the high sensitivity items can incur damages. The manner in which personal information is stolen involves a part of the battle.

Stringent Measures to Prevent Identity Thefts:

Based on the reports by the Federal Trade Commission, 0.4 million Americans suffered from identity theft because of stolen mail.

These incidents can be avoided if some proper care is exercised. Be careful while dealing with the mail, since it can include sensitive personal information.

Below mentioned are some of the identity theft prevention tips for ensuring that the mail doesn’t get into wrong hands:-

* Never leave any outgoing mail in an unsecured location. Deposit the mail in the collection boxes of USPS.
* Never leave the mail in the mailbox on weekends or overnight.
* While out of town, arrange for the mail to be held at post office.
* Purchase a mailbox having locking system.




Darren Herrington has over 10 years in credit repair industry. Prior to starting NCR Darren worked as a Stockbroker for 7 years, then at American Express financial services for 5 years. Now with NCR plus he helps thousands mend their credit by removing inaccurate, misleading or unverifiable items.Visit our
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