Be vigilant in checking for ID theft

The theft of 40 million credit and debit card records from Target wasn’t the biggest or most damaging data breach ever, but coming right before Christmas, it sure did get our attention.

A recent Javelin Strategy and Research report shows the number of identity fraud victims in the U.S. increased for the second year in a row, rising by one million to a total of 12.6 million in 2012.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates there are more than nine million victims of identity theft in the U.S. every year. That’s about nine out of every 300 people. The theft is never really reported because banks will reimburse the loss and sometimes, the theft is not reported to police.

Prevent becoming a victim; get vigilant about your identity with the following tips from the Better Business Bureau (BBB):

Protect your Social Security number. Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check.

Treat your trash and mail carefully. Shred and minimize junk mail to thwart an identity thief who may pick through your trash or recycling bins to capture your personal information. Shred receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, bank statements, expired charge cards and credit offers you get in the mail.

Be on guard when using the Internet. Always look for the padlock in the URL and for the ‘s’ in HTTP to ensure you are on a secure website. Make sure you are actually dealing with a company that you know and trust and it is the real website.

Select intricate passwords. For all online accounts, create a unique password. Avoid using easily available information like your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, and the last four digits of your Social Security number or your phone number.

Verify a source before sharing information. Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or on the Internet unless you’ve initiated the contact and are sure you know whom you’re dealing with.

The best way to detect identity theft is to be vigilant, monitor your accounts and bank statements each month, and check your credit report on a regular basis.