Identity theft is real and thieves like to take advantage of those who don't protect themselves.  Get John Sileo's, author of "Privacy Means Profit" tips on how to protect your identity.

1. Monitor Your Credit Report Look for any suspicious activity or unknown accounts. If you find anything new that you haven't applied for contact the responsible financial institution immediately.
2. Credit Monitoring Services that companies like CSIdentity offer make it easy to ensure that fraudsters aren't accessing your personal information, accounts, or credit. Allowing them to do it for you will put you more at ease this Holiday Season.
3. Sign up for Account Alerts This way you will know immediately if anyone is making fraudulent charges on your account.
4. Switch to Online Statements This way you can more easily access your accounts throughout the month rather than waiting until the end of the month for a statement.