Here are eight valuable tips to keep yourself and your family safer from Identity Theft.

1. Pull the credit reports of all family members every year. Through federal law, you are entitled to your report for free once a year. (Use the site https://www.annualcreditreport.com.) Even minor children are at risk, so confirm there are no records claiming they have debts.

2. Because companies are not required to report your current standing every month, credit reports are often not up to date. But if the amount is very wrong – and well over 6 months behind – check into why.