1. Secure your personal information

• Guard your mail.  Consider buying a mailbox that locks or installing a mail slot in your door to protect thieves from stealing your bills, convenience checks, pre-approved credit offers, and other mail that contains sensitive information.

• Shred and destroy any bills, account statements, credit card offers, or files containing sensitive information before throwing them away.

• Carry only the information you need. When you go out, only take the debit cards, credit cards and identification that you will need to use.

• Use effective passwords for your financial accounts. Avoid using easily available information such as your mother's maiden name, your birth date, or the last four numbers of your social security number.