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Here are ten steps that will help you evade identity theft:

1. If you are fond of writing checks, use only a gel pen with blank ink (gel pens are available in many colors including silver and gold). Gel pens are manufactured with a certain chemical that cannot be easily erased with special solvents used by identity theft criminals when changing the details on the check.
2. Research on how you can protect your child’s identity from identity theft. Your child has a very clean credit history which is very ideal for identity thieves. Also, identity thieves prefer children’s identity because children do not monitor their credit reports.
3. Opt out of phone directories and phone brigades. This will unlist your number from the local directory or if you want to be listed, use your first initial instead of your full name. Your full name and address are very valuable information that identity thieves can use for potential identity theft crimes.
4. Purchase a cross-cut shredder. Any documents that contain your personal information like receipts, credit card offers, bank statements and other correspondences should be shredded before they are thrown out of the trash. This would prevent dumpster divers from gaining access to your personal information.
5. Acknowledge the fact that dumpster diving actually exists and it’s not something that you can ignore. For this reason, you have to be very careful with the things that you throw in the trash can if you don’t want another person taking or using your identity.
6. Cover your hand when you key in your PIN number in the ATM machine. This would prevent shoulder surfers from getting your PIN number and making illegal transactions using your card account.
7. After withdrawing cash from the ATM machine, do not throw the receipt on the floor, or in the nearest garbage bin. The receipts also contain valuable information that criminals can use in their identity theft activities.
8. Instead of a signature, write the phrase “PHOTO ID REQUIRED” at the back of your credit card. If in case the card is stolen and the identity thief tries to make a purchase using your credit card, the cashier who will handle the transaction will be prompted to ask for additional ID cards before the entire purchase is completed. If, however, a purchase is still done, the store shares in the blame for any unauthorized charges that will be done in your account.
9. If you cannot memorize your social security numbers, passwords or PIN numbers, think of strategies that will enable you to remember all your passwords. Never, ever write them down on a small piece of paper and carry them around in your purse. To further protect yourself, do not carry other documents or identifying pieces of information that identity thieves can use, unless you really need them.
10. When you eat at restaurants or make purchases in department stores using your credit card, do not allow your credit card to be taken away from your sight. Whenever possible, do not allow the waiter to take it from you. They can switch your credit card and swipe them in a machine that will read all your account information.