Anyone can fall victim to identity theft, but there are ways to help minimize its likelihood. Doeren Mayhew shares 10 best practices to help safeguard your personal data:

  1. Secure your personal information both at home and in the workplace. Shred documents as necessary.
  2. Keep firewalls and security software up-to-date on your personal computers.
  3. Avoid using unsecured wireless networks.
  4. Create strong passwords and frequently change them. Do not use the same password for various accounts.
  5. Always log-out of a website before closing a browser window.
  6. Encrypt and password protect any sensitive documents.
  7. Only click on links or open attachments from a source you know and trust.
  8. Set your online account settings to notify when login attempts are failed.
  9. Look for a “lock” icon on the website URL bar to indicate it is a secured site for transferring data.
  10. Do not give out vital information over the phone or by email.

If you have become a victim of identity theft, particularly tax identity theft, you don’t have to go at the process alone. Contact Doeren Mayhew’s tax advisors to help you reclaim your identity.