Students wary of identity theft
“Although [identity theft] is a fairly new crime,” said Sergeant Michael Baker. “It’s also the fastest growing crime.”
The Identity Theft Resource Center encourages teens and college students to learn more about identity theft on their website. “Identity theft can affect everyone, including teenagers,” stated the IDST Web site.
While identity theft can be broken down into many sectors–such as business, criminal, financial and medical– the most common form found on campus deals with the international sector often known as a Nigerian scam.
Baker has seen students become victims of this scam while selling their books online. The scam occurs when, as a form of payment, students receive a check that is written out for more than the amount requested.
The scam artist then requests that the seller cashes the check and sends the extra funds back to the purchaser. Because this is actually a fraudulent act, the check bounces and it becomes the responsibility of the seller.
Selling books is something that many college students are very familiar with, but knowing this type of fraud exists should make them more cautious.
Knowing that no one is immune to this crime and that it can happen to anyone is the first step to preparing yourself to properly protect your identity. However, many people find that identity theft is far too complex of a crime and they tend to brush it off.
According to the ITRC, identity theft continues to flourish, especially online identity theft and check fraud.
The following may help protect your identity and gives suggestions for handling identity theft if it happens.
Let’s start with the basics. The best way to deal with identity theft is to do all you can to make sure that you do not become a victim in the first place.
“The smallest things can go a long way,” Baker said.
In order to be an active player in keeping your identity yours, shred important papers that have personal information on them, keep a close eye on your accounts and check your credit report at least once a year, which you can do for free.
The Federal Trade Commission recommends you contact one of the three consumer reporting companies: Equifax at 1-800-525-6285 or www.equifax.com; Experian at 1-888-397-3742 or www.experian.com; or TransUnion at 1-800-680-7289 or www.transunion.com.
If an identity has been compromised, the reporting company will notify the other companies.
If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, what next? This seems to be a tricky question for college students who spend some of their time at the parent’s home and the rest living near college.
Baker reveals that in a college student’s case this is looked upon as a jurisdiction issue.
“The crime should be reported wherever the victim is founded,” Baker said.
The term “founded” means nothing more than where one resides or spends the majority of his or her time.
As a GCSU student, you would want to contact the Public Safety Department.
Paul Grigsby, Wells Hall resident director and GCSU graduate, agrees that identity theft is definitely a crime that needs to be taken seriously.”I check my bank statements, and I make sure that all the Web sites I visit are secure,” Grigsby said.
Also Grigsby suggests “only using credit cards when making online purchases, because credit is a lot easier to undo.”
While technology aids in the rapid growth of identity theft, Baker reminds students to “never be afraid to report (identity tampering).”
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Feb 20 2009. Filed under News.
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