Identity theft. It’s more widespread all the time with con artists coming up with new methods of getting our personal information every time we start to catch onto the old ones. You need to be aware of some basic security steps to safeguard yourself from identity theft.

Now you may have done your budget after my last post and decided that possibly it would be a good thing if someone stole your identity, but trust me, they would make a worse job of your credit than you ever could.

The Federal Trade Commission’s website on identity theft helps you:

Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information;

Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements;

and

Defend against ID theft as soon as you suspect a problem.

For tips on how to protect yourself from identity theft and what to do if you have become a victim of ID theft, visit the FTC’s ID Theft site.