Dotting the globe and snaking its way into small college towns, identity theft victimizes almost 20,000 people every day. Almost weekly, reports from the Rexburg Police Department provide proof that students are not exempt from this crime. Identity theft can strike even the most cautious person at any time.
Among the various ways thieves steal identities are dumpster diving, stealing mail, snatching purses or wallets, receiving information over the phone or through e-mail or gaining access to a loan or credit application filled out by a student.
Captain Randy Lewis of the Rexburg Police Department recommends students take preventive efforts to protect themselves from fraud.
“The most important thing to remember is to limit the amount of information students give out over the phone or the Internet,” said Lewis.
When ordering an item off the internet, Lewis advises having one credit card used only for that purpose with a $200-$300 limit. This ensures that the maximum amount a thief can spend is relatively small, causing less damage to the victim’s bank account.
Students should never carry their pin or social security numbers with them. If ever lost or seen by a thief, identity can be stolen within 24 hours.
All bank account documents, receipts and credit card statements should be torn up or shredded as soon as possible. Recently, a bank located in Rexburg threw away a bag filled with customers’ personal bank information that had not been shredded or torn. Documents were seen floating down the street and could have been nabbed by anyone with a desire to steal an identity. Every document with personal information should be shredded.
Finding ways citizens can protect themselves from identity thieves is available at www.idtheftcenter.org. From guarding personal information to being suspicious about emails, the website aims to help.
Many threatening siuations may occur but preventative efforts can greatly reduce the risks identity theft could incur.
Students can assess their identity-risk factor by going to www.idtheftcenter.org and taking the Identity IQ Test, determining their personal level of risk for identity theft by assessing how businesses they work for or frequently visit may be putting them at risk.
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