Identity theft protection tips

Identity theft is the crime of stealing your personal, identifying information for the purpose of using it to conduct fraudulent / criminal activity.

Such information could include your bank account or credit card information, usernames and passwords, or documents/information that could be used to ‘prove’ that someone else is you (e.g. passport, driver’s licence, household rates notices, bank statements, Medicare number, health provider records).

Criminal or fraudulent activity could include opening new bank accounts, obtaining loans, stealing money from bank accounts, or selling your home, all without your knowledge or authority.

Following are some tips on how to protect your identity.

This information has been compiled from the www.privacyawarenessweek.org website managed by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. For more help on identifying your own identity theft weaknesses, use the identity theft tool available on that website.

[Next: Your wallet]