College Students at Highest Risk for Identity Theft
Jeff Golden
Issue date: 8/31/07 Section: News
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Of young adults ages, 18 to 29, around 29 percent reported being victimized by identity theft in 2005. The actual number of students affected is higher, but many crimes go unreported. Thieves target college students because students are paying bills for the first time, applying for their first credit cards, using their Social Security Numbers for school IDs, and numerous other reasons. Most college students don't even think about identity theft, which makes them easier targets.
"The fact that a college student isn't thinking about identity theft plays directly into a thief's plans. They want to get their hands on those people who have good, clean credit records and who do not review their credit history often. Young adults are applying for or using credit cards and paying bills for the first time, so they are a prime target for theft of their personal information," said Leslie Capstick, media relations associate for the NCPC.
There are many simple ways to reduce your risk of identity theft. Your Social Security Number should be kept as private as possible; remove it from your school ID, driver's license and personal checks. UNCW has recently done this by changing students' school ID numbers. Students should also store their Social Security Cards in some place other than their wallets.
Never give out personal information over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact. Thieves can send out false e-mails, in which they pretend to be a bank (a tactic called phishing), and request personal information like credit card numbers. When shopping online, make sure the Web site you are purchasing from is a legitimate business.
"I bought a T-shirt online from a small business, and the next thing I know, charges are showing up left and right on my debit card-charges I wasn't putting on it myself. Oh, and I never got the shirt," said Doug Williams of Charlotte, N.C.
Check your mailbox often. Identity thieves can "shop" mailboxes for personal information such as bank statements, phone bills or pre-approved credit card applications. Make sure to shred or properly dispose of such documents once you're finished with them. Contrary to popular belief, only 11.6 percent of identity thefts occur online.
If you think you are the victim of identity theft, report the suspicious activity right away. Alert TransUnion, Equifax or Experian (the three major credit bureaus) and have them close your compromised account. File a police report so you have proof of the incident. Contact the Federal Trade Commission (http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft) and file a complaint.
In 2004, identity theft cost consumers over $5 billion. It takes 30 hours of effort and $500, on average, to recover from this crime. Take these measures to protect yourself, or you may become one of the many victims of identity theft.
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