There are ways in which you can reduce the risks of becoming a victim of identity fraud, and many of these are common sense steps that can be easily incorporated into every day life.

At home

Check around your property and make sure it is secure against burglary with locks on the doors and windows.  You might also want to consider putting a fence and locked gate around the rear of the property as well to help improve home security, and make sure when you go away from home you lock everything up and shut all of the windows.  Keep all of your important documents stored in a safe place away from prying eyes, such as a locked filing cabinet, and make sure any key identity documents such as your passport or birth certificates are locked in a secure safe or strong box.

Out and About

Try not to carry too many credit/debit cards and checkbooks around with you when you leave the house, and only take key ID documents if you absolutely need them.  If you need your ID document as proof of age for going into bars and clubs get a CitizenCard (UK) or student card (US) rather than taking your passport or driver license with you, as these will be easier to replace if they get lost or stolen.  Never leave your wallet or belongings unattended, and if you do lose any plastic cards then report them to the provider immediately to help prevent any fraudulent activity.

On Holiday

Inform your credit card provider that you are going on holiday and only take one or two plastic cards at most with you.  Keep your passport and plastic cards with you at all times, and don’t leave it in the hotel room when you go out for the day.  Never leave your luggage unattended, and keep a close eye on your bags when you are travelling through busy airports or train stations.