Information about protecting yourself from identity theft.

Ways to Prevent Offline Identity Theft

Studies have show that offline identity theft occurs more often that offline identity theft.

To prevent becoming a victim of offline identity theft, paper statements, bills, and checks can be replaced with online versions. This way, the identity thief cannot obtain the information they need from the victims incoming mail. It also enables the potential offline identity theft victim to check billing statements more frequently, so they can detect fraudulent activity a lot sooner than waiting for a paper bill or statement to come in the postal mail.

Before discarding any private document, billing statement, bank statement, or any piece of paper containing personal information it, it should be shred completely to help prevent offline identity theft. This will prevent an identity thief from obtaining discarded bills and statements from the potential offline identity theft victim's garbage can.

If online billing statements are not an option, to prevent offline identity theft, mail should be promptly retrieved and outgoing mail should be put in a Postal Service Mailbox, or taken directly to the post office. This will make it impossible for a potential offline identity thief to steal information via a victim's postal mailbox at their home.

It is never a good idea to give credit card information or a social security number through email and doing so contributes to online identity theft. If credit card information, or a social security number is necessary, be sure to be logged into the official web page before entering the information.

Online identity theft and offline identity theft are both on the rise. Following a few tips and safety precautions could prevent falling victim of this crime and decrease the rising rate. Studies have show that offline identity theft occurs more often that offline identity theft.

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