*If* you are worried about identity theft, you should have credit freezes with each of the 3 credit agencies...
Best advice yet. I had my identity stolen years ago-from a paper check. Nothing is immune so the onus is on you to protect yourself. I have an Equifax account which monitors everything. It allows me to lock my credit report so that it's inaccessible to any search, so anyone applying for credit in my name will be stopped in their tracks. My cc companies and bank all require me to notify them if I leave the area, otherwise my cards won't work. They also monitor my spending habits and question if something doesn't look right. A PITA at times but well worth it.
Rule of thumb on using debit cards is don't let the card out of your sight and do a physical look at the scanner to make sure there's no scamming devices attached.
