Identity theft happens when someone uses your name or personal information to impersonate you in order to purchase products, or to participate in criminal activity.

Identity Theft is a growing problem in the world today.  It seems like there is a new story in the media every day about some becoming a victim.  The website  www.identitytheft.org has a lot of great information on things that you can do to protect yourself, like using secure passwords and not things like your mother’s maiden name, where you went to high school or where you were born as your password or security question. 

Every home should own a shredder.  If you do not need a document any more and it has information about you on it . . . name, address, email, date of birth, social security number, bank account or credit card account information . . . then it should go in the shredder NOT the garbage.