Let’s face it, one of the major issues adding stress to many lives is identity theft.  It seems so futuristic.  Be careful, it is here and now and has never been worse.  The key is to be proactive. Do not become a victim. Following are 15 tips to help you prevent having your identity stolen.

1. Identity theft starts with the misuse of your personal identifying information such as your name, Social Security number, credit card numbers, or other financial account information. 

2. Check your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus every year. 

3. Open your credit card bills and bank statements right away. Review your statements.

4. Close unused accounts.

5. Be aware if bills don’t arrive on time. It may mean that someone has changed contact information to hide fraudulent charges, or may be stealing your mail.

6. Don’t carry your Social Security card or PIN numbers in your purse or wallet because of what can happen if they fall into the wrong hands. 

7. Avoid giving any personal information over the phone, mail, or Internet unless you know who you are dealing with. Give it to them in person instead. 

8. Be aware of phone scams.  They are rampant nowadays.  Basically, do not trust any unsolicited calls, even if they say they were referred by your church. Criminals pretend they are collecting money for victims of a natural disaster. Sometimes they claim to be police officers and ask for donations. 

9. Elderly people are frequently targeted in money scams. Keep a helpful eye for elderly family members and vulnerable neighbors. 

10. Make sure that you disconnect your laptop from a broadband or a shared connection when you are not using it. 

11. Avoid offers and pop-ups that sound too good to be true. They want you to enter your information so they can access all of your personal information. 

12. Remove your name from mailing lists for pre-approved credit offers. Pre-approved credit card offers are a target for identity thieves who steal your mail. Have your name removed from credit bureau marketing lists. Call toll-free 888-5OPTOUT (888-567-8688). 

13. Only enter personal information on secure Web pages that encrypt your data in transit. You can often tell if a page is secure if "https" is in URL or if there is a padlock icon on the browser window. 

14. If you’re going to use a mail box, do so during or close to the posted pick up hours. Better yet, drop your mail off at your local post office.

15. Retrieve mail promptly and discontinue delivery while out of town.