Identity theft is a crime that can strike anyone at any time and any place. Most people mistakenly believe that identity theft will not affect them and that it only happens to other people. However, if it does strike, it will completely disrupt your life. Rather than having to learn a lesson the hard way, it makes sense to set up an identity theft protection plan.

Notice the publicity being given to the huge numbers of identity theft cases taking place in the US and the rest of the world. Such bad news should act like a wakeup call and get you moving to do something concrete to beat the odds that you will become the next identity theft victim.

Without a good identity theft protection plan in place you will have little chance to combat identity thieves. These people operate with stealth and with great speed and ingenuity. What’s more, by the time you wake up to the fact that your identity has been stolen you will be in deep financial and emotional trouble.

The first step in your identity theft protection plan is to avoid throwing out your old bank and credit card statements into the garbage without shredding them first.

The second step is to ensure that your social security number and card are carefully guarded and there is be no chance of them falling into the wrong hands.

The third part of your identity theft protection plan will be to ensure that you never divulge your personal information over the telephone, through the mail or via the internet unless you have initiated the conversation or communication.

When using the internet your identity theft protection plan must ensure that you never click on unsolicited emails or on suspicious links. Your computer must be protected by a firewall and good anti-virus software, and you need to be extremely cautious about divulging credit card information. Also, before throwing away your old computer make sure to format and erase your hard drive and only then discard the computer.

When it comes to credit you need to be very alert. If your credit card information falls into the wrong hands, it can lead to catastrophic consequences.

There are a few other things you can do if you’re concerned about identity theft protection. If your credit card statements suddenly stop being delivered, take immediate action to find out why. Never leave your purse or wallet unattended when in public places. Finally, a good identity theft protection plan will ensure that you arrange with your credit card company to have your photo ID checked when using your card.