According to the Federal Trade Commission, up to 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year.

Although nothing can guarantee that you won’t become a victim, there are things the FTC recommends you can do to help minimize your risk, including:

• Guarding your Social Security number.
• Shredding documents with personal information before disposing of them.
• Using intricate passwords.
• Verifying a source before sharing any personal information.
• Being on the lookout for online scammers and thieves.
• Keeping your purse, wallet, and personal information secure.

The best way to detect identity theft is to monitor your accounts and bank statements each month and check your credit report regularly.

If you discover that you are a victim of identity theft, take steps to respond and recover as soon as possible. You can find forms, sample letters, and other tools from the Federal Trade Commission.