Don’t share your personal, financial or health plan information over the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you have a trusted relationship with the requestor and you initiated the contact.

Before you sell, give away or dispose of a laptop, computer or mobile device, get rid of all the personal information you have stored on it.

Pick up your mail promptly and use a secure mailbox. Consider opting out of most prescreened offers of credit by calling 1-888-567-8688 or go to optoutprescreen.com. Those offers could be used by identity thieves who steal mail.

Shred sensitive documents and papers containing account numbers, social security numbers, financial information, credit offers, or other personal information.

Use different and strong passwords for each of your accounts – and then safeguard them.

Use only one credit card for your online purchases. Do not use a debit card.

Be wary of “Phishing” emails and text messages. Often these will attempt to impersonate your bank, a business, or organization indicating your account is compromised or you have won a prize. DO NOT open or respond to the email or text. Instead call you financial on the phone via a number you find on their website.