University of Michigan - Flint

Even though someone who is just a few years out of high school might not have much money to steal, he or she has a fresh identity which can be used to obtain new lines of credit--potentially even more harmful than simply emptying your bank account. Someone with little or no established credit, who is sloppy about protecting private details about themselves is a perfect victim for an identity thieves.

Also, be careful about what information you provide on social networking sites: use a gender-neutral nickname and don’t post any specific information that would identify yourself (high school attended + year of graduation; complete birth date; home address).  Carefully weigh the benefits of posting information on a SNS before you decide to post.  For more information about staying safe on social networking sites, please consult http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST06-003.html.

Another good habit to practice is shredding credit card offers with your name pre-printed on the application.  While cyber-crime is on the rise, many thieves still do things the old-fashioned way. This includes stealing mail from your mailbox and pilfering paper from your trash. When you are done with sensitive material, use a cross-cut shredder to destroy your documents, CD-ROMs and credit cards.

Question 2: College students are at risk for identity theft because...

A.		Students may have little or no established credit.
B.		Students often post personal information like birthdays and addresses on social networking sites.
C.		College students receive credit card offers in the mail, which can be pulled from the trash and filled out by someone else.
D.		All of the above.

While it may seem like a college student with little money to steal isn't a good target for identity theft, you have a lot more to be stolen than you might realize.

Question 1  |  Question 3