Identity theft is by far the fastest growing crime in America. As technology gets more sophisticated, so have the criminals. Millions of people are scammed out of their money every year by identity thieves. And the trend is not slowing down any. The following are five easy tips you can follow to prevent reduce the chances of identity theft happening to you. Keep in mind, sometimes identity theft is unavoidable as a result of our use of personal information to buy products and services almost on a daily basis. But you can definitely take steps to reduce the risk. By taking the steps below, you will certainly reduce your risk of having your identity stolen by a large amount.

1. Be wary of people near you, especially those who look like they are snooping. These are people who like to always glance at what you are doing. Also, be aware of your surroundings when you are working in public. Try to have a protective screen whenever necessary. I am especially careful in library because I am connected to a public network and there are a vast amount of people there.

2. Make sure to completely destroy all digital data. Shred paper documents containing any information about your accounts. Thieves have been known to retrieve sensitive information from recycle cans. In the same manner, if you want to get rid of your computer, make sure that you thoroughly erase all data and also try to break the harddrive, if possible. When I give away stuff or sell hard drives, I always make sure to do a software wipe at least twice over.

3. Always protect your digital devices (such as laptops and phones) with a password. Internet access is abundant and so you definitely do not want unwarranted access to your stuff. Speaking of which, also always protect your home network with a firewall and a password. People who pry on open networks can steal personal information on your system. On my mobile phone, I have a password to unlock the phone and another password to unlock my sensitive apps.

4. Have an alarm system. Even a sign that you have a home security system is usually a good deterrent as thieves are very wary of houses with security system. Once the alarm goes off, they have to make a run for it or else they will get caught. Alarm systems usually take awhile to disarm and so are often-times not worth it.

5. Get signed up for a credit monitoring service such as IdentityGuard. They will notify you via e-mail or text of any changes in your credit profile. Sometimes these services also give you a free monthly credit score. Albiet, they are not your FICO scores, but they are darn close. Ask your bank about the fraud protection they offer because you will need it; if not now then some time in the future. I guarantee it.

Use the above tips to safeguard yourself against identity theft. If you take the precautions above, you may be one of those people who have never gotten their identity stolen. I am a huge e-commerce guy so my credit card information is all over the place. But I have never gotten my identity stolen. If you take the advice I have given above, you can greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim.

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