How to Stay Safe from Identity Theft
The best way to deal with the prospect of identity theft is to avoid it by employing safe practices in everyday life. Here are some tips and best practices to prevent identity theft:
- Shred all important documents, such as bank statements, credit card offers, and any pieces of paper which contain an account number or social security number. Remember prescription drug containers, too, as they usually have an account number and other personal information printed on the label.
- Don’t let mail pile up and lay around where anyone could gain access to it. Be sure that anything which goes in the trash bin does not contain any usable information – shred or tear documents into small pieces if necessary.
- Always log out of secure sites, such as online banking, before exiting the program. Also ensure your web browser does not save log in and password information associated with sensitive sites.
- Never store personal information or username and password combinations on your computer’s hard drive. If you must write them down somewhere, make sure the document is stored in a safe location, such as lock box. But it's best to memorize them no written record that could be compromised.
- Use secure passwords which are not composed of obvious numbers such as date of birth, phone numbers, anniversaries, or addresses. Using a long string of numbers and letters in a random combination is best to avoid hacking.
- Ensure that the web sites you use for buying merchandise or services are secure. Oftentimes, the URL will be preceded by https:// and it will bear the logo indicating a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate.
- Be wary of emails which are “phishing” for information, or trying to get you to respond to what looks like a legitimate site but redirects you to a thief’s site where your personal information will be recorded. Learn how to spot these phishing emails.
- Be very careful in giving out your social security number. There are few instances when it is the only number you can use to access or open an account (even at the university). Use a driver’s license to prove identity and do not carry your social security card with you; instead keep in a safe place. The same applies to a student ID card, particularly if it contains your social security number.
What to Do If You Suspect You Have Become a Victim of Identity Theft
Not just an inconvenience or a detriment to your credit rating, identity theft is classified as a federal crime. According to the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998, it is a federal crime if someone "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."
If you suspect that you're identity has been compromised, the first step is to notify all your financial institutions that may have been affected. Ensure that all accounts are closed immediately and ask that any new accounts be flagged for possible fraudulent charges in the future.
Next, notify your local law enforcement office of the crime. They will be able to advise you of further steps as well as begin an investigation.
Also contact the three credit reporting bureaus and notify them of the theft of your identity. They can put a fraud alert in your file with a date so that charges occurring after this date will not negatively affect your credit rating.
The time spent going to college is, for most students, one of the best and most memorable periods in their life. Make sure it is not memorable, however, because of the trauma and suffering which result from the theft of your identity. Be vigilant about protecting your information and never assume that such a crime cannot happen to you. Chances are, there is already someone you know who has had it happen to them.