Identity theft has struck homebuyers and real estate professionals across the nation. To help consumers better protect their credit, the National Association of Realtors and the Federal Trade Commission recently unveiled a new nationwide campaign, AvoID Theft: Deter, Detect, Defend, which recommends the following safety tips.

To deter identity theft:

• Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them.

• Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check.

• Don’t give out personal information on the phone, via mail or over the Internet.

• Never click on links sent in unsolicited e-mails. Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer. Visit OnGuardOnline.gov for more information.

• Don’t use an obvious password like your birthdate, your mother’s maiden name or the last four digits of your Social Security number.

• Keep your personal information in a secure place.

To detect identity theft:

• Be alert to mail or bills that do not arrive as expected, unexpected credit cards or account statements, denials of credit for no apparent reason or calls or letters about purchases that were not made.

• Inspect your credit report.

• The law requires the major nationwide consumer reporting companies - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion - to give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it.

• Visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call (877) 322-8228 to order free credit reports each year. You also can write: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

• Review financial accounts and billing statements regularly; look for charges you did not make.

To defend against identity theft:

• Place a “fraud alert” on your credit reports. A fraud alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before they open any new accounts in your name or make changes to your existing accounts.

• Close any accounts that have been tampered with or established fraudulently.

• File a police report. It will help you work with creditors who may request documentation that a crime has occurred.

• Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission.

The Silicon Valley Association of Realtors provides the information for this column. Send questions to Rose Meily at rmeily@silvar.org.