Protect your credit and home-ownership dreams from identity theft. As the Internet makes it easier for others to access your private information and personal data, it’s more important than ever to make sure you are taking the appropriate precautions. By stealing your identity, thieves are able to remove funds from your bank accounts, apply for credit, and even access government benefits by using your social security number. Don’t let identity theft steal your good name and credit.

• Shred or cut all financial documents before putting them in the trash. This includes bank statements, billing statements, and pre-approved credit card offers.
• Don’t send your address and telephone number with every email. Change your automatic signature so that this information isn’t transmitted with every communication.
• Try not to send personal information through email. If you must send information via email split it up between two or more emails so that it’s more difficult to intercept (i.e. a credit card number in one email with the expiration date in a separate one).
• Before you give credit card information online, make sure the website has a closed lock or an unbroken key icon at the bottom of the browser. This indicates that the site is encrypting your information.
• Don’t reply to SPAM or junk e-mail. You could add your email address to more lists by doing so.
• Don’t click on links in an email requesting to “verify” your information. Though the window that opens may look authentic, you could inadvertently hand over your personal information to someone else. Open a new browser window and go directly to the website to verify or change any personal information.