by Joseph Kenny | 11/15/09

As if life weren’t hard enough for America’s youth, a new report from an insurance conglomerate claims that newlyweds are a rapidly growing demographic being targeted for identity theft. For the unaware, identity theft is a serious crime that plagues Americans across the country.

It is estimated to affect over nine million Americans every year, and the number doesn’t appear to be shrinking anytime soon.

So, what about newlyweds puts them at greater risk for identity theft? For one thing, the planning stages of a wedding are a time of intense stress and preoccupation, and there is a great deal of personal information put out there, such as in gift registries, bridal expos, etc. It’s a tragic combination of excitement and stress that leaves the couple more susceptible to lapses in judgment. The fact is, they are more exposed to potential thefts than at most other times, and less able to devote the time and attention to take precautions against it.

Not to miss out on a growing market, many companies are now offering identity check-up and theft counseling for local marriage licensing requirements, as well as informing couples on how to keep marriage license and other sensitive information from becoming public record. However, for those who would rather not splurge on identity theft counseling and prevention services, simply being careful who you give personal information to can be a reasonable safeguard.

Typically, you should avoid giving out your Social Security number to anyone, and being cautious about handing over your credit card information or any financial account information. Without proper precautions and an adequate level of awareness of the possibility of identity theft, you put yourself at a much higher risk.

Other strategies include creating a new email account meant only for all of your marriage and honeymoon arrangements, avoiding the temptation to put too much personal information on any social networking or wedding websites, and monitoring all of your credit card transactions. Similarly, do not give out any sensitive information over the phone unless you are absolutely sure it’s safe to do so, and avoid carrying your Social Security card around with you.

For even more security, shred any unneeded documents that contain your personal or financial information, routinely review all of your statements and reports for anything suspicious or out of place, and keep up-to-date photocopies of all of your “cards”: Social Security cards, health insurance cards, credit cards, debit cards, etc. That way, if your wallet is ever stolen, you will have an easier time verifying your identity––and when you’re about to get married, it’s even more important to get those types of mishaps resolved as expediently as possible.

Whether you are going to get married, are currently planning a wedding, or newly married, the transition from being two separate people to sharing a life together can be a bit of an uphill battle. If you keep these strategies in mind and stay on the lookout for possible suspicious activity along the way, you will be one step ahead of most young couples.