College Students: An Identity Thief's Primary Target

By Ally Russell on September 20, 2016

With school fully in session, there are many things on a student’s mind: exams, papers, meetings, and of course, parties. And in this age where social media runs rampant and where people are constantly logging in and out, the last thing on a student’s, or even their parent’s, mind is identity theft.

As college students, we like to think that we are invincible — nothing could possibly happen to us. We’re young, we have time to bounce back. Unfortunately, bouncing back from a stolen identity is hard, and college students are prime targets for thieves who want to take advantage of our naivety and sense of invulnerability. So, take a second to educate yourself on how to protect your most personal information!

via Pixabay

What is identity theft?

In case there are those of you that have no idea what identity theft is, I’ll fill you in. Identity theft is when a person steals private information, such as bank account numbers, social security numbers, or credit cards, in order to pass as you.

Now, it may sound silly. Identity theft is something that usually happens to adults who are reckless with their credit cards, right? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, “college students are more likely to be hit by identity thieves because they are more vulnerable.”

This vulnerability is caused by the naïve idea that college students are not the targets of these thieves.

An article published by Javelin said “students are [the] least concerned yet most severely impacted by fraud.”

This is primarily due to the fact that we are unaware of schemes that get us to spill our most personal information.

How do they get your information?

The term is called “phishing,” an attempt to get someone to disclose personal information for the purpose of fraud or theft. Thieves try to get a target that they are communicating with to believe that they need legitimate personal information. Classic examples of this include e-mails from banks and law enforcement. These e-mails will try and illicit an immediate and urgent response from readers, such as their account being compromised or being in trouble with the law. The best way to avoid these schemes is to never click links in e-mails that look fishy, and always contact your bank and credit card company before going any further.

If you think that you were a victim of phishing or you want to find out more information, you can check out the Anti-Phishing Working Group to check out their resources.

While phishing is one way that thieves go about getting personal information, there are other ways too. Mostly this happens when people are privy to sharing their information either on public computers, social media, or through their school.

via Pixabay

How to keep your identity safe

Here are some tips on making sure your private information stays private:

•Never carry your social security card in your wallet. Personally, I have my social security number memorized, so if I’m ever in a situation when I need my number I have it. Carrying it around in your wallet can be dangerous and if it ever falls out you may find yourself with a stolen identity.

Do not shop online or pay bills on a public computer: This one may seem like a no-brainer, but if your due date is creeping up on you, or if you have a late payment, anyone would desperately use a public computer in order to get that bill paid. But don’t succumb to the hysteria; keeping your identity safe from thieves is far more important than a late bill. If you have no other option, always make sure you delete cookies and Internet history before logging out.

Make sure your student ID doesn’t bear resemblance to your social: Sometimes schools use your social as your student ID number; if your school does this, request a different number.

Beware of public WiFi: Piggybacking off of the previous tip, avoid paying bills or making purchases over public WiFi. The connection isn’t always secure and could easily be hacked. That cute top may seem worth it now, but in a couple months it may only serve as a reminder of the identity you lost.

Be social media savvy: Before you send that Snapchat or take that really cute selfie you’re going to post to Instagram, make sure that none of your personal information can be seen in the background. Just a few numbers on a bill lying on your desk can be enough information for an identity thief to use.

It is important to remember, above all else, that identity thieves don’t discriminate. If there is an opportunity to steal your identity, they will take it. In this age of social media, it is easy to get complacent, but keep these tips in mind before you go gallivanting around campus, recklessly spending or losing your wallet.

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