#1) Banks and Financial Institutions will NEVER send you a email and prompt you to provide personal information or request you to access your account.

#2) Never attempt to go to your bank or financial institutions web site using a link in a email.

#3) Be suspicious of any email with urgent requests for personal financial information. Always confirm such request with your financial institution.

#4) Most sites on the net start with "http". Secure sites start with "https". Never give your personal or account information to a site unless you are certain you are in the right place.

#5) Monitor your credit report to make sure the information on file is accurate.

Get LifeLock ! Identity Theft Services. LifeLock goes far beyond Credit Monitoring on your behalf. LifeLock provides a proactive identity theft service, specializing in the prevention of identity theft rather than the reporting of it.