 TITLE: Four Ways to Reduce the Risk of Identity Theft CONTENT: 2\\. Keep Your Personal Documents Safe\n-------------------------------------\nOnline identity theft is more common than it used to be, but it's still possible for criminals to gain access to your credit card numbers, bank account information and other sensitive information on paper. Here are ways to safeguard your documents:\n*   **Request electronic statements**: Doing this eliminates the paper trail financial account statements create. Mail fraud is considered old school, but it's still alive and well. It's best to have financial statements delivered to your secure email inbox rather than your mailbox.\n*   **Keep your mail safe**: If you do receive paper documents with personal information, see if you can add a lock to your mailbox or use a P.O. box as your mailing address. You may also want to consider having smaller packages delivered to your work address so you receive them during the day versus having them left unattended on your porch. If you are going to be gone for a while, ask someone to pick up and hold your mail for you, or request a hold with the U.S. Postal Service until you return.\n*   **Buy a shredder**: If you plan to throw out financial and other sensitive documents, shred them first. This can take a little extra time but adds a layer of protection against dumpster-divers.\n*   **Lock it up**: There are some documents—your Social Security number, recent tax returns, birth certificate and more—you can't get rid of. Consider getting a safe deposit box at a local bank branch or purchasing a lockbox you can store them in at your house. END