Identity thieves have a penchant for using other people’s Social Security numbers (SSN) to submit false tax returns and claim refunds to which they aren’t entitled. You may find it’s happened to you if the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rejects your return and informs you it already has one for your SSN. If so, there are two critical steps you need to take.

Do you have any tips for easy-to-remember, truly ‘secret’ passwords? I know what not to use – birthdates and anniversaries, social security numbers, initials, etc. – but what can I use, that I will be able to recall, that someone else would never figure out?

Gabby, Victim Advisor at the Identity Theft Resource Center, explains "shoulder surfing" and discusses options for smartphone security. Also shared is a case of reputation-damaging social media content.

There are two possible takeaways from the title of this post. Either, the instruction is to shred rather than trash, or, you should infer that there’s value in saving bills and receipts. I believe both statements to be true.

While we are all aware that computers retain information from their users, a public computer user may not consider just how dangerous that information could be in the wrong hands. Retained Internet history, passwords or social network log-in credentials provide an excellent opportunity for identity thieves to access all of the information they will need to steal the user’s identity. However, following the tips below can help decrease the risk of becoming the target of identity thieves:

New Year’s Resolution season only comes around once a year, carrying with it enough importance and potential to make it worth writing about more than once. Along with the impulse to break bad habits, now is the time to take on new habits to help protect yourself against identity theft.

The more realistic the New Year's resolution, the easier it is to keep. It’s not a cop-out to make doable resolutions; it’s setting oneself up for success. It’s “SMART”.

Parking lots overflow. Shoppers jostle for must-have gifts. Holiday spending may be in full swing, but not everyone is on the lookout for the best deals. Some people are simply looking out for distracted shoppers and the chance to steal a credit card or worse, an entire wallet and someone’s identity.

Viruses lurk everywhere on the Web, possibly even behind the holiday animations and e-cards that make the rounds this time of year. While we here at ProtectMyID don’t want to be scrooges, we do want you to be careful. Because that free holiday ringtone may come with a hidden cost – a virus that steals your personal data and leaves you susceptible to identity theft.

There are plenty of legitimate charities that need your donations this time of the year. And plenty of illegitimate ones that just want to con you. Donate to a bogus charity and you’ll lose out on the donated dollar amount. You might lose even more to identity theft if your personal and payment data accompanied your donation. The Federal Trade Commission names the following tactics as red flags of potential charity fraud: