Postal Inspectors also offer these tips for ID theft protection:

• Order your free credit report once a year from each credit bureau to check for accuracy and fraud use. You can order it online at annualcreditreport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228.
• Report lost or stolen credit cards to the issuer immediately.
• Sign your new credit cards — before someone else does.
• Memorize your Social Security number and passwords; don’t carry them with you. Don’t use your date of birth as your password.
• Never leave receipts behind — at ATMs, on counters at financial institutions, or at gasoline pumps.
• Check expiration dates on credit cards and contact the issuer if you don’t get a replacement before they expire. The same goes for monthly financial statements and bills.
• Match credit card receipts against monthly bills and check financial statements for accuracy.