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Protect Yourself From Identity Theft During the Holidays With Tips From Grange Insurance

According to the FBI, identity theft affects about ten million Americans each year, costing individuals and businesses $52 billion. Alan Brannan, president, property and casualty for Grange Insurance, says although you should protect yourself throughout the year, the holidays are an especially critical time to keep an eye on your information.

"It can be very easy for people to get a hold of your credit card information during the holiday season because you're using it so often and may lose focus on protecting it," Brannan says. "Fortunately, small actions can make a big difference in the long run."

Brannan suggests shredding or properly storing important documents, such as receipts and bank statements, once you're done with them. Identity thieves often do their "shopping" in trash cans and dumpsters, so if you throw away important information, the chances are greater that they'll find and use it. Brannan also says to carefully look over statements and keep track of spending so you can stay on top of any charges you didn't make.

Brannan recommends not carrying too much important information with you at all times. Unless you truly need it, keep social security cards, extra credit cards, deposit slips and check books at home. Victims of purse snatching and pick pocketing often find that more than their cash has been taken, so it's best to only carry the essentials.

Online shopping is a continued preference for many holiday purchases, so Brannan recommends you choose your online stores carefully. Never click on links provided in emails, even if they look official. These emails could contain phishing software to record your personal information as you type. Another good way to spot these fraudulent emails is making sure you sign up with the company for information and know that companies will never ask for sensitive account or identification information.

When using lesser known companies, check for the "http" at the beginning of a Web site and look for the padlock icon. These icons indicate that the site meets certain data security requirements. If you're still not sure if the site is safe, you can also check to see if the company is a member of the Better Business Bureau Online Reliability Program and if they are Visa CISP (Cardholder Information Security Program) compliant.

Brannan also suggests researching and purchasing ID theft protection. There are many creditable companies that offer protection and credit report monitoring for a fee per month. Brannan says to check with your insurance agent to see if it offers options to purchase services through programs such as Grange's Identity Theft 911. In the chance that your information is stolen, this type of program provides victim resolution and education coverage to policy holders.

"Identity theft is an invasion of privacy and can be a taxing ordeal for its victim," Brannan says. "While you cannot completely eliminate the chance of information being stolen, you can take the necessary steps to greatly reduce the odds."

Grange Insurance, based inColumbus, Ohio, is a $1 billion insurance services provider. Through its network of independent agents, Grange offers auto, home, life, business and farm insurance protection through Grange Insurance and Integrity Insurance. The company serves policyholders in Georgia,Illinois,Indiana,Iowa,Kentucky,Michigan,Minnesota,Ohio, Pennsylvania,South Carolina,Tennessee,Virginia andWisconsin. For more information, visit www.grangeinsurance.com.

SOURCE Grange Insurance