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With as many as 10 million victims every year, identity theft is quickly becoming the most popular crime in America. It's estimated that identity theft costs U.S. businesses and consumers as much as $56 billion per year.
While teaching your kids the benefits of recycling junk mail take these steps to protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft.
- Shred It and Forget It - Shred receipts, bank statements, credit card statements and any other documents containing personal information (credit card numbers, social security numbers, etc.) and reduce your risk of becoming a victim. For information on shredding safety, click here.
- Get Off Mailing Lists - Any time you subscribe to a publication, make a credit card purchase by mail or via the Internet, your name could be sold or traded as part of a mailing list. Reduce the number of places your information can be found and decrease the chances that your identity will be stolen. For information on getting off those pesky lists, click here.
- Stay Vigilant - Carefully examine your credit report as well as your monthly bank and credit statements for signs of illegal activity. Remember, you are ultimately responsible for monitoring your accounts. If you suspect that your identity has been stolen contact your credit card company or bank immediately.
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