identity theft

You

are

at

risk

for

the

fastest

growing

• growing

crimescrime

in

the

nation

Identity Theft

Identity theftsteals who YOU

are and

who YOU want to be.

A recent national survey of college

students found that:

Almost ½ of all college students receive credit card applications on a daily or weekly basis.

Almost 1/2 of all college students

receive credit card applications on a

daily or weekly basis.

Many of these students THROW OUT card

applications without destroying them.

Nearly a 1/3 of students rarely, if

ever, reconcile their credit card and

checking accountbalances.

Almost 50% of students have had grades posted by

Social Security number.

Many of your daily activities expose you to this crime.

Are you doing anything to put YOUR identity

at risk?

Do you use your personal computer for online banking

transactions?

Do YOU . . . ?

Do YOU use YOUR personal computer

to buy merchandise,

purchase tickets, or other services?

Do YOU . . . ?

Do YOU receive credit card offers

in the mail?

Do YOU . . . ?

Do YOU discard these

documents without

shredding them?

Do YOU . . . ?

Do YOU store personal information in your

computer?

Do YOU . . . ?

Do YOU use a cell phone?

Do YOU . . . ?

Do YOU use your Social Security number

for identification?

Do YOU . . . ?

If you answered YES to at least ONE of these

questions, . . .

YOU AREat risk.

Identity Theft

occurs when someone else uses YOUR

personal identifying information without YOUR knowledge or

permission

Motives for Identity Theft

• To obtain credit cards• To get wireless Internet• To get cell phone products and services• To obtain loans and mortgages• To get a job• To commit fraudulent and criminal acts,

in YOUR NAME . . . GUESS WHO’S RESPONSIBLE???

What information should YOU protect?

Social Security numberDriver's license number

Credit card numbersAnd even your E-mail address .

. .

Your E-mail address can be an invitation to come into your

computer and access your

personal information.

If YOUR identity is stolen, YOU may spend months or EVEN YEARS repairing the

damage thieves have caused to YOUR reputation and YOUR credit record.

In the time it takes to resolve these issues,

YOU may lose job opportunities and be

refused loans for education, housing, or

a car.

What can YOU do?

Memorize your passwords

Memorize your Social Security number

Don’t carry your Social Security card or birth certificate with you

Don’t use your date of birth as your password

Don’t record your passwords on papers you carry with you

Order a credit report each year

Thoroughly review for accuracy

Shred pre-approved credit applications that come in the mail

Shred other financial documents before throwing them away

Report lost or stolen credit cards immediately

Check your monthly credit card and bank statements for unusual activity.

Use a firewall program on your computer

Do not open emails or download files sent to you by people you do not know

at

ARE

RISK!

YOU

WHERE

Can YOU

Go

For Help?

• http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/

• http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=155682,00.html

• http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/idthft_ncpw.htm

• http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/idtheft.htm

• http://www.noscamnc.gov

Now that YOU know, YOU can help . . .

• Write to your peers to help them become aware.

• Design a poster to inform others of the risk of identity

theft.

. . . Let others know that THEY ARE . . .

AT

RISK