You'll additionally get a free copy of your credit report -- examine it and keep in contact with the credit score bureaus till they right any fraudulent costs or accounts you discover there. Bank card corporations limit your liability on fraudulent purchases, and you may dispute false prices. A financial savings account that has no checks issued and is not linked to any debit card will be a lot tougher for a thief to gain entry to. If you keep a large amount of money in your main checking account, then all that money is vulnerable if somebody steals your debit card or writes checks in your identify. While you send mail, use secure, opaque envelopes so nobody can read account numbers or spot checks just by holding them up to the light. Only use ATMs in secure, nicely-lit places, and don't use the machine if someone is standing too shut or looking over your shoulder.