It’s basically up to the individual to protect his or her own identity: shred documents and avoid giving personal information unless you are sure who you’re dealing with. Avoid using your Social Security number; many companies will let you create an alternate username. Most important: monitor your financial statements and correspondence. Check credit-card bills. If a bill is late—or worse, missing—find out why.

Many credit-card companies will notify you if there is an unusual charge, but it’s up to the user to monitor all communications. Notify the company of any suspicious charges.

Because identity theft is the leading tax scam, the IRS has created the Identity Theft pilot PIN program, available mostly to those who have been, or suspect they have been victims of ID theft. It allows them to avoid delays when filing returns and receiving refunds. (See www.irs.gov/uac/Identity-Protection.)

For nearly 30 years, Mike Nickerson has owned and managed a small, full-service accounting practice in the Midcoast. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from University of Southern Main and a master's degree in financial planning from Bentley University.

He is a past board member and president of the Maine Society of Certified Public Accountants and currently serves on the Maine Board of Accountancy.

An aged rock musician, Nickerson now finds musical enjoyment playing upright and electric bass in a variety of bands spanning folk to jazz music genres. He and his wife have three grown children, and they enjoy their free time hiking, kayaking, golfing, bicycling and motorcycling.

http://www.nickersonpa.com/