Today, millions are shopping online and purchasing over the internet on a daily basis. Identity theft has risen as thieves turn their attention to this domain. Most sites are secure and trusting but always make sure you are using a secure browser and website when shopping online. Never release personal information when shopping online unless you are using a secure browser. If you don’t have a secured browser or the website, when shopping online, place your order by phone. Likewise, if you do order by phone, make sure no one is near by that may overhear your credit card number.

Also, many websites require a password or a personal identification number (PIN) when shopping online. Don’t use common names or dates that can easily be guessed. Create a password or PIN made of numbers and letters. As an example, instead of using “Mickey” use “M8ck3y”. This simple change will deter most identity theft opportunities.

Other identity theft areas to remember include:

-Keeping your credit cards with you at all times. Never let your cards out of your site even to waiters at restaurants or cashiers at stores.
-Check your monthly credit card statement thoroughly. Whether you receive your credit card statement by mail or electronically, check to make sure all the charges were actually made by you. Any discrepancies on your credit card statement should be reported to your credit card company immediately.
-If you’re planning to move, let the credit card company know in advance to prevent the next tenant from receiving your credit card statement.
-An obvious, yet frequently overlooked, area is to alert your credit card company if your card becomes lost or stolen with the date the card was lost or stolen. This way a stop can be put on your card to prevent charges from being made to your account.

In many cases, victims of identity theft haven’t done anything wrong except place their trust in people. Do your part to protect your identity by following the tips above and you will reduce your risk of identity theft. Most credit card companies today offer a identity/fraud protection guarantee so make sure you look for credit cards which offer this protection.

Again, check your credit rating often, and if you notice anything odd contact your credit card company immediately. As mentioned most have measures in place to keep identity theft damage to a minimum.