How can you Combat Identity Fraud?

One of the best ways in which you can combat identity fraud is to take responsibility for your own personal data, and start treating it all as confidential.  Never give out personal information such as your name, address and sensitive account details unless you have confirmed the necessity of this request, and also the authenticity of the requester, and be very suspicious of any unsolicited calls/emails asking for sensitive financial account information such as your credit card number or bank account details.

Another way you can combat ID fraud is to sign up to one of the identity theft protection services.  These offer a number of very effective ways to prevent thieves from misusing your personal data including:
•    Consumer Credit Report Monitoring – this is the core of many identity theft protection services, and monitors your credit report and alerts you instantly if any changes take place.  This is allows you to act fast if any fraudsters are trying to apply for credit in your name.
•    Consumer Credit Report Blocking – this is an essential tool for those people who have already become victims of identity theft, as it places a complete block on your consumer credit report, preventing anyone from applying fro credit in your name.
•    Computer Software Protection – if you use the Internet on your home computer you must protect the personal information it contains from hackers by using the latest anti-malware and firewall software.  Identity protection services such as Identity Guard offer their members comprehensive security packages for their computers, which can protect them against the threat of hackers and fraudsters.

Identity theft protection services such as LifeLock, Identity Guard, TrustedID and ID Patrol (Equifax) also offer identity theft insurance for their members, which can provide financial cover and support from specialists recovery agents in the event you do become a victim of identity theft.