Identity theft is a serious crime that occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity thieves rob more than 500,000 Americans every year. Credit can be damaged, and fixing it can cost you hundreds of dollars and take hundreds of hours of your time. This article outlines how to avoid identity theft.

Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them. Protect your Social Security number. Don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check. Give it out only if absolutely necessary or ask to use another form of identification. Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you know who exactly you are dealing with and you are certain they are a trusted source. Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, type in a web address you know. Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer; keep them up-to-date. Visit OnGuardOnline.gov for more information. Don't use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother's maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Monitor your credit report. It contains your SSN, present and prior employers, a listing of all account numbers, including those that have been closed, as well as your overall credit score. Remove your name from the marketing lists of the three credit reporting bureaus to reduce the number of pre-approved credit offers you receive. Add your name to the name-deletion lists of the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service and Telephone Preference Service used by banks and other marketers. Take all payments and checks that need to be mailed directly to the post office. Examine the charges on your credit card statements before paying them.