Having your identity stolen is one of the most traumatic experiences anyone can have and it’s something we hope will never happen to us. Even in places like DFW and Coppell, identity theft is fast becoming one of the most prevalent crimes out there. Not only is it easy for criminals to commit identity theft, it doesn’t help that there’s a vast amount of personal information that’s easily available to criminals. By the time you discover your identity’s been stolen, the damage has already been done.

How Can I Prevent Identity Theft?

You can’t completely prevent identity theft, but you can make yourself less of a target. Here are a few tips that can help you reduce your risk of being an identity theft victim in Texas:

Make sure your Social Security card is kept somewhere safe. Only bring it along with you if you need it.
Collect your mail as soon as it arrives in your mailbox. Consider a post office box if you can’t be there to pick up your mail immediately.
Always shred documents that contain personal or financial information.
Be wary of phone calls or e-mail correspondence with companies you’ve never done business with.
Never click on links found within your e-mails. Verify the validity of the link and copy/paste it into the address bar instead.
Keep your credit card and debit card receipts in a safe place until you’re ready to shred them. Go through each receipt at the end of the month, tally up your expenses and compare those to your current balances.
Never give out your banking information online via e-mail or through unfamiliar and unverified links.

Give us a call to speak to an independent agent about other ways to prevent ID theft, as well as to find out more about the benefits of having home insurance.