By Denise Richardson

October 26, 2012 - Earlier this week the 5th annual National Protect Your Identity Week campaign kicked-off. The 2012 theme;"Identity Theft Protection on the Go" is geared to remind us all how important it is for us to protect our identities when using our mobile devices.

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The National Foundation for Credit Counseling Member Agencies and supporting Coalition Members have been offering free identity theft education and protection events in communities across the country, including workshops, cell phone recycling, and on-the-spot document shredding. It's not too late to find an event near you.

The ProtectYourIdNow.org website also offers smart cell phone tips, ID theft resources and a self-assessment ID Quiz to determine your own personal risk of identity theft. For additional information about how to keep your identity, and your smartphone, safe, visit the Protect Your Identity Now site and click on "ID Theft Protection on the Go."

According to Javelin Strategy & Research, a recent study found that 7 percent of smartphone owners were victims of identity fraud last year --this incidence rate is one-third higher than that of the general public. Additional results show that 32 percent of Smartphone owners do not update to a new operating system when it becomes available; 62 percent do not use a password on their home screen, thus allowing easy access to information if the phone is lost or stolen. Find additional Identity Theft Stats.

October is also National Cyber Security Awareness Month --and this year's campaign reminds each of us all to why it's so important to Stop! Think! Connect!

Phones can contain tremendous amounts of personal information. Lost or stolen devices can be used to gather information about you and. potentially, others. Protect your phone like you would your computer.

• ·         Secure your phone: Use a strong passcode to lock your phone.
• ·         Think before you app: Review the privacy policy and understand what data (location, access to your social networks) the app can access on your device before you download.
• ·         Only give your mobile number out to people you know and trust and never give anyone else's number out without their permission.
• ·         Learn how to disable the geotagging feature

To support these campaigns and find additional information and resources to help you protect your online devices and identity visit StaySafeOnline.org and ProtectYourIdNow.org

Take control of your identity and your mobile devices --before someone else does.

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