With increasing security measures and awareness, you may think that personal identity theft is a thing of the past. However, statistics in a 2009 report released by the Javelin Strategy and Research Center suggest otherwise. Their survey shows that nearly 10 million U.S. adults were victims of some form of ID theft in 2008, a 22% increase from 2007.

You can prepare yourself to stay protected should it happen to you. Find out how ID theft coverage can help ease your worries about your personal information being compromised.

Protect yourself from the unexpected with these helpful identity theft tips:

Find the right amount of coverage – Know what to look for in an identity theft coverage policy as well as what you can expect from it. Just because you have ID theft coverage doesn’t mean you should stop taking everyday precautions to guard your identity. Typical ID theft coverage does not reimburse the money that was stolen from you, although some do. Instead, the costs associated with having your identity stolen are covered, such as replacing your documents, receiving credit reports, etc. You can upgrade to a more comprehensive policy that could include:

Emergency cash – In extreme identity fraud circumstances in which your funds are depleted, your policy should provide emergency cash to use for your immediate needs.
Stolen funds replacement – A comprehensive policy will include $15,000 to $30,000 worth of fund recovery – with a low or no deductible – for funds stolen from you.
Professional and immediate assistance – If you’re pleased with your auto or home insurance provider, ask them about getting ID theft coverage. It’s important to choose an insurance provider that provides fast, reliable and professional help when you need it. Choosing a reputable company could prove invaluable if you become a victim of personal identity theft.

Choose a policy that includes credit monitoring – Some id theft coverage policies, like those from Nationwide Insurance, include credit monitoring services with free coverage options. With credit monitoring, you’ll be notified when your credit report shows changes such as employment, home address, new accounts opened in your name and inquiries from creditors. Many also include fraud alerts to keep you further protected. It’s important that you pay attention to these notices.

Now that you have some helpful identity theft tips to help you recover from fraud and theft, you should feel more confident about securing your personal information.

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