Leaving bills in your mailbox, not shredding your personal information before you throw it away or putting your personal information on the internet, can make you a target for identity theft.
Better Business Bureau agents said people don't realize their identity has been stolen until it's too late.
In the state of Alabama, more than 13,000 people filed complaints of fraudulent activity with credit agencies. 19-percent had been victims of identity theft.
"What we find is, the sooner you find you had your ID stolen and you report it, the less traumatic it can be for you, the less intrusive it is for you to get that resolved. So we encourage people on a consistent basis to check their credit report," said Michele Mason, Better Business Bureau of North Alabama.
Mason also suggest talking to your children about their credit and how to protect it. A consumer report from 2009 to 2010 shows college students are the number one target for identity theft.
Check your credit report annually and if you do see any suspicious activity, report it to a credit agency and the police department. This will help if you have to dispute any unwanted charges or claims.
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