Check your bank account and credit billing statements carefully each month for unauthorized activity.
If you receive a credit card in the mail that you did not request, call the issuer to find out why it was sent to you. If it was requested by someone else in your name, cancel it immediately.
When creating a password for an ATM card, long distance account, credit card, or other form of credit do not use common numbers such as your birth date or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
Avoid using names, such as your mother's maiden name or your birthplace, that are likely to appear in public records accessible to thieves.