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College Students Targeted for Identity Theft

Identity theft is a growing problem in America and college students are the ideal target.

Published: Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Updated: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 17:03

College Students Targeted for Identity Theft

Photo Illustration by Angela Beach | Valley Star

Students are often told to protect themselves from dangerous situations, but now they have to worry about their identity exponentially more everyday.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft is the largest consumer complaint. The FTC complaint study shows that the bracket for 18-29 year olds accounts for 24 percent of all identity theft complaints.

Dean of Enrollment, Florentino Manzano, stated, “As a young adult I was not careful with my information. Maybe that has not changed. We need to be vigilant.”

Students are often more vulnerable to identity theft because most are in good standing with their credit or have blank credit and no criminal charges. Personal information is easily accessible through daily activities that they overlooked. Activities such as talking on a cell phone in public, having a roommate, discarding mail before shredding it, and leaving belongings unattended are some of the many ways students are putting themselves at risk.

Although identity theft is a popular crime, not many students are aware of the seriousness of this act. Many people are confused about what identity theft is, how to protect against it, and what to do if you become a victim.

“Valley College no longer uses social security numbers as identification; in order to lower the chances of identity theft, all students are given a district-issued number,” said Manzano.

There are many other ways to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft. The U.S. Department of Education recommends never giving out personal information over the phone or Internet unless you initiate the contact; do not carry personal information such as your social security card. Ordering your free annual credit report to check for accuracy or strange activity can also be beneficial. If students believe they are a victim of identity theft, reporting a fraud alert to the credit bureaus, filing a police report and a claim with the Federal Trade Commission, as well as speaking to the Internal Revenue Service is necessary.

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