Keep your holiday bright - and safe - with ID theft prevention tips

(ARA) - Not everyone will be thinking of gift shopping, decorating and spreading good cheer this holiday season. Identity thieves will spend their time concocting new ways to steal and use your personal information.

More people report lost and stolen wallets to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) between November and January than at any other time of year, according to the center’s Web site. Nearly 10 million Americans were affected by identity theft in 2008, according to the Javelin Strategy and Research Center. Law enforcement officials predict identity theft will continue to rise throughout 2009 due to the economy.

“The downturn in the economy and resultant tightening of credit may or may not be the reason, but unfortunately we have seen the number of Identity theft cases rise," says Jay Foley, executive director of the nonprofit ITRC.

Good old-fashioned vigilance remains the best way to protect your identity. This holiday season, you’ll need to be as creative as the ID thieves in order to avoid identity theft.

Here are some tips to avoid falling victim to identity theft while you conduct your holiday business:

* Be aware – and wary – of your surroundings when you use your cell phone in a public place, whether you’re at work, using public transportation or strolling through the mall. If you make a purchase over the phone and give your credit card number and billing information aloud in a public place, you could be giving identity thieves everything they need to steal your identitiy.

* Keep your wallet lean when holiday shopping. Carry only the credit cards and ID that you need. Never carry your Social Security card or your checkbook; checks are for paying bills at home. If you must carry multiple cards and pieces of ID, consider enrolling in a protection product like ProtectMyID.com, which provides members with dedicated Fraud Resolution Agents to act as your advocate, work with you to resolve fraud issues and help you reclaim your good name.

* Shopping after work? Put your laptop, purse or brief case in the trunk of your car before you reach your destination. Don’t wait until you get to the mall; thieves are watching parking lots to see who puts something in the trunk before leaving their car.

* When paying for purchases, never allow your credit card out of your sight. Don’t walk away while the cashier runs your charge. Thieves now have scanning devices that allow them to scan your card in seconds.

* When shopping online, only do business with sites that display the “lock” security symbol that indicates they are a secure Web site. Transmitting credit card and personal information over a non-secure site exposes your information to hackers and identity thieves.

* Make sure your identity theft protection product comes from a reliable, reputable company that doesn’t leave you on your own in case the worst happens. ProtectMyID a part of Experian, the credit bureau with more than 13 years experience in identity protection, helps its members defend themselves against the financial losses caused by identity theft. It will reimburse up to $1 million in losses and expenses in the event the product fails. ProtectMyID.com’s product Guarantee may also reimburse for stolen funds from unauthorized ATM, debit and credit card transactions for which the member may be personally liable.

* Turn down those credit cards the clerk offers in the store – even if it comes with a big discount for the day. ID thieves look for people completing credit applications on the fly and take the opportunity to steal identifying information.

Courtesy of ARAcontent