Unlike your parents, you probably don’t spend a lot of time freaking out about having your identity stolen. You know you’re savvy enough to avoid gimmicky pop-up ads and bogus websites, and you’re comfortable managing your personal accounts online.
And who wants to steal a broke college kid’s identity anyway — right?
College Students at Risk
The truth is, plenty of identity thieves would love to get their hands on your young and unblemished credit. According to Identity Theft FAQ, people ages 18–29 represent 31 percent of identity theft victims each year.
You’re an easy target because:
- You tend to have reasonable credit
- You’re frequently using your Social Security number for school and things like new credit card applications and rental applications
- Your personal information can be easily accessible in high-traffic dorms
- You socialize online and tend to post personally identifying information on blogs and networking sites like Facebook and MySpace
- You often access unsecured Wi-Fi networks, leaving you susceptible to file stealing
- Protecting yourself from identity theft isn’t usually at the forefront of your mind
- A lack of assets may give you a false sense of security
What to Do If It Happens to You
You can take some simple preventive steps to help guard your identity with these 10 everyday tips for protecting yourself from identity theft.
But if identity thieves still manage to get a hold of your personal info, the Federal Trade Commission offers these four basic steps to take when you become a victim of identity fraud. Make sure to act quickly because each hour that goes by could mean hundreds of dollars in fraudulent charges under your name.
1. Call in a fraud alert.
A fraud alert stays on your credit report for 90 days and can help keep an identity thief from opening new credit-based accounts in your name. All three consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — take fraud-alert requests. You only need to call one of them; the company you call is required to contact the other two.
2. Close breached accounts.
It’s better to call to cancel your accounts in person, rather doing it online or via e-mail. Follow up in writing, particularly with credit card companies and banks, to create a paper trail. Supply each company with copies of your supporting documents, send your docs by certified mail, and request a return receipt so you have a record of when each company received your written cancellation.
3. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
Fill out an online complaint form or call the FTC Identity Theft Hotline at (877) 438 4338.
4. File a report with the police in the area where the theft took place.
Tell the police you want to file an identity theft report. Ask if you can file in person, and take a printed copy of your FTC complaint form with you to include in the report. If you can’t file in person, ask if you can place the report over the phone or online. If the police seem reluctant, ask them to fill out a Miscellaneous Incident Report.
Related Article: 10 Tips for Protecting Yourself From Identity Theft