Identity theft is a major issue today. If you are a target, you could have your credit ruined, money stolen from your bank account and even illegal activities mistakenly attributed to you. The hassle of trying to reclaim your own identity is not only frustrating, but can take years to fully clear it up. In the meantime, you are stuck getting calls from bill collectors and are limited in using your credit to buy those items you really want to buy.

The best method of protecting yourself is to find ways to safeguard your information so you don’t become a victim.It’s been said that the best defense is a great offense. When it comes to your identity, stay on the offense and don’t let yourself become a target.

Trash can be a goldmine!Be very, very careful about what you throw away. Once you take your garbage outside, it’s legally free for someone to rummage through it and take whatever they want. If you throw away your bills and unsolicited credit card offers, you have just handed the thief everything he needs to steal your identity.

If you don’t have a shredder, run – don’t walk – to the local store and buy yourself one. You can buy a good shredder for less than $100 and the benefits far outweigh the cost. When looking for a shredder, don’t just one that just cuts the paper into long strips – find one that turns your personal papers into confetti.Make sure you shred everything that has personal information on it.This can include bills, pre-printed order forms (usually stuck in the middle of a catalog), unsolicited credit card offers and financial correspondence. A good rule of thumb is that if your name or address shows up on something, it’s destined for the shredder.

When using your credit or debit card, make sure you keep a close eye on the cashier and people around you. If you think something is suspicious or feel that someone is watching you way too closely, stop the transaction. Watch for “multi-swiping”, which basically means that the cashier runs your card through the reader more than once. You can always ask the store to hold your purchase and return later with cash to finalize the transaction.

Never, ever click a link in an e-mail to verify financial information. No company will *ever* send you an email asking for your password or asking you to verify your information. Thieves can create a very realistic-looking website that looks almost exactly like the real one.So – instead of clicking through - when conducting financial business online, open your browser and always type the web address in yourself.

In the same vein, never, ever answer financial questions on the phone. No real company will call you to ask you for your information or ask you to verify your password.Unless you, personally, called the financial institution and are 100% sure you are talking to the real company, don’t give out any information.

Good old fashioned theft!Someone stealing your wallet or purse can gain a wealth of information that will allow a thief to assume your identity and steal your money. Keep a close eye on your belongings no matter where you are.Limit what you carry. Never carry your social security card or anything you don’t need.

Be proactive! Check your bills every month for questionable charges.Get a copy of your credit report at least once per year or sign up with one of the credit bureaus for notifications whenever someone applies for credit in your name.

With a little bit of a suspicious nature and some good old common sense, you can protect yourself and your financial information. Work to keep from being an easy target and when in doubt about any financial transaction, stop and don’t start back again until you are comfortable.