Identity thieves can drain your financial accounts, open new accounts, steal your tax refund, use your health insurance to get medical treatment, or use your name when they’re arrested. Identity theft monitoring services only notify you after something has happened. Though it's unlikely there’s a way to totally prevent identity theft, these 11 steps make it much harder for thieves to ruin your financial life.

Guard your Social Security Number. It’s like a master key to your personal data. When asked for it, find out why it’s needed and how they protect it. Don’t carry your card with you, store it securely. Shred paperwork that shows it.

Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication. Create complex passwords. Don’t reuse them. Employ two-factor authentication when offered, or add an authenticator app. Don’t depend on security questions to protect your accounts. Don’t give clues about how you answered security questions on social media.

Watch for phishing and spoofing. Scammers call and email you posing as government agencies and legitimate businesses. The IRS does not telephone or email you; they only communicate by mail. Don’t click links in emails or open attachments you aren’t expecting. If you think the email is legit, go to the sender’s website and call or email them there to confirm.

Monitor your mailbox. If you’re out of town, have your mail held. Go to this link and sign up for Informed Delivery for free. This USPS service previews your mail so you know what you should receive. Consider a USPS-approved lockable mailbox.

Use a digital wallet for paying online or in store. A digital wallet app contains secure, digital versions of your credit and debit cards. It safely encrypts and tokenizes transactions you make with it.

Protect mobile devices. Use facial or fingerprint recognition and not passwords that can be shoulder surfed. Don’t use public USB charging ports. Don’t log into sensitive accounts on public Wi-Fi networks. Keep phone software updated. Use a banking app, not your mobile browser.

Check your credit reports. Make sure the information is accurate, and all the accounts are ones you use. The three major credit reporting companies are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com, the only source for free credit reports authorized by Federal law.

Freeze your credit. This restricts access to your records so new accounts cannot be opened. When you want to apply for a credit card or loan, you can then unfreeze. You can freeze and unfreeze your credit for free with all three major credit reporting companies.

Monitor financial and medical statements. Make sure you recognize all transactions. Call if you don’t get a bill you expect. Review “explanation of benefits” statements to make sure you’ve been provided those medical services.

Shred: credit card, bank, and investment statements; even junk mail, particularly pre-approved credit offers.

Sign up for alerts from financial institutions. Many will text or email you when transactions are made on your accounts.