College and University Blog

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States, costing victims over $5 billion annually. Identity theft occurs when someone else uses your personal information without your knowledge or permission to obtain credit cards, get services, obtain loans and mortgages, and commit other types of fraudulent or criminal acts, in your name, leaving you responsible for the consequences.

If your identity is stolen, you may spend months or even years clearing up the damage thieves have caused to your reputation and credit record. During this time, you may lose job opportunities and be refused loans for education, housing, or a car. Although you may never have committed a crime, been late with a payment, or abused your credit, you are the one who would suffer severe financial consequences as a result of identity theft. As a student or recent graduate, being a victim of identity theft jeopardizes your financial future just as you are beginning to establish your credit record.

Identity theft is a federal crime. The Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998 made it a federal crime when anyone “knowingly transfers or uses, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person with the intent to commit, or to aid or abet, any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of the Federal law, or that constitutes a felony under any applicable State or local law.”

The first step to prevent identity theft is awareness of how and when you use your personal information. By keeping close tabs on your personal information, you can reduce your chances of becoming a victim.

One of the most important things you can do is to keep close tabs on your Social Security number. If somebody gets a hold of your Social Security number, they could assume your identity for all kinds of purposes and cause you all kinds of grief. Having someone’s name and Social Security number makes it easy to commit identity theft.

Trying to minimize the use of your Social Security number on campus may be difficult. Many colleges use Social Security numbers as student ID numbers. It is very common to be asked for this ID just about everywhere – bookstores, cafeterias, rec centers. 50% of students report that they

Posted on 17 Feb