While you may not be able to prevent identity theft, there are measures you can take to deter identity theft and reduce your risk. Some of the things you can do include:

1. Shred all unwanted materials



2. Secure personal information in your home



3. Do not give out personal information over the phone or on the internet to unknown individuals



4. Do not send personal information in emails unless the emails are encrypted



5. Deposit out going mail in post office collection boxes, not personal mail boxes



6. Pay attention to billing cycles and follow-up with creditors if statements are incorrect or do not arrive to your home as scheduled



7. Subscribe to an identity theft monitoring service to assure early detection of any irregularity