7 Ways to Avoid Identity Theft This Holiday Shopping Season

You probably didn't know this, but the holiday shopping season is prime time for identity thieves. Cyber-criminals know that during this hectic season, you and millions of others like you become more lax with their personal and financial information, leaving a great opening for thieves for stealing everything from your credit card numbers and more importantly, your personal identities. Think about it, in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we all get caught up in purchasing and gift giving, that we lose track of keeping up with finances. Stealing credit card information is one of the goals of criminals, but ultimately they want your identity. Want to keep your identity safe, follow these steps during the Holiday Shopping Season and beyond.

1. Check your financial accounts often. Get with the times and sign up for online banking with your financial institution. If you have members of your family who haven't signed up, convince them to do the same as well. You might think you're opening up yourself to risk by signing up for online banking, but it's one of the best things you can do to stay on top of your money. Check your debit and credit accounts often to ensure nothing is amiss.