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How can I protect myself from identity theft?
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 an identity theft victim. Let’s start with credit cards.
Students applying for or using student loans should also:
These are just a few basic steps to take immediately to protect your personal information. Following are some links to other good sources of information to help you reduce your exposure to identity theft.
Identity
theft resource center:
Information about scams and consumer alerts, victim resources and other information.
Federal
Trade Commission:
Information on protecting yourself against identity theft, forms for reporting
identity theft, and other information.
IRS Suspicious e-Mails and Identity Theft Web Page:
Information on understanding and preventing identity theft and suspicious e-mails (phishing), or dealing with their aftermath.
United
States Postal Inspectors:
Information about identity theft of any material that is sent through the
mail.
United
States Department of Justice:
Information on identity theft and prosecution of identity thieves.
Social Security Administration:
Information about earnings reported on your Social Security number and takes
reports of lost Social Security numbers.
NW3C
(National White Collar Crime Center):
Information and research so that individuals may become proactive in the prevention
of economic cyber crime.
Credit Card Alert!
Pre-approved credit card offers probably flood your mailbox every week. Whatever
you do, don’t simply throw away these offers; an identity thief can
easily pick up a stray application and apply for the card in your name. You
should shred these applications before you dispose of them. Credit card companies
also entice students on campus with promotional items and free gifts. These
offers are risky, providing an opening for identity theft. You should review
your statements, and your bank and credit card statements, as soon as you
receive them. Thieves can charge thousands of dollars to an account in a very
short period of time. Your best protection is to pick up all your mail promptly.
Leaving mail lying around your dorm or apartment provides another opportunity
for your personal information to be taken and abused.
A Special Word About Social Security
Numbers
You need to be particularly vigilant about safeguarding your Social Security Number. Your employer and bank will likely need your SSN for wage and tax reporting purposes. Other businesses may ask you for your SSN to do a credit check, such as when you apply for a loan, rent an apartment, or sign up for utilities. Sometimes, however, they simply want your SSN for general record keeping. You don’t have to give a business your SSN just because someone asks for it. If someone asks for your SSN, ask the following questions:
Last Modified: 02/25/2008
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