8. Review your phone bills and cellular phone bills each moth for any unauthorized use. And compare your ATM receipts and cashed checks with your periodic bank statements to check for unauthorized transfers or charges.

9. When filling out a loan or credit application, ask how company disposes of them. When you receive one of those pre approved credit card offers in mail make sure to cut it in small pieces before throwing it away.

10. When creating passwords or Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) choose something different from your address, telephone number, middle name, last four digits of your Social Security number, your birth date or any other information that could be easily discovered by thieves.

Bonus- Always write checks using a fine point permanent marker and put a line before written amount so that no one can add something in once you’ve written check.

Resources:

Credit reporting bureaus: Eqifax- P.O. Box 740241 Atlanta GA 30374-0241. To report fraud 800-525-6285 To order a credit report 800-685-1111 To opt out of pre-approved credit offers 888-567-8688

Experian- P.O. Box 2104 Allen TX 75013-2104 To report fraud or to order a credit report 888-397-3742. To opt out of pre-approved credit offers 888-567-8688

Trans Union- P.O. Box 390 Springfield PA 19064-0390. To report fraud 800-680-7289. To order a credit report 800-888-4213 To opt out of pre-approved credit offers 888-567-8688

Check verification companies: To verify if there are any activities on your account from fraud contact these verification companies.

CheckRite- 800-766-2748 Chexsystems- 800-428-9623 National Processing Co. -800-526-5380 Telecheck- 800-710-9898

Social Security Administration- To report fraud 800-269-0271 To order your earnings and benefits statement 800-772-1213