Identity Theft in College Students

Very often people hear about identities being stolen all around the world. Most people brush it off and use the phrase, “Well, it will never happen to me”. When it comes to identity theft, it can happen to anyone. It happens very often to college students. College students are a major target to identity theft and need to be aware of their risk. Students need to understand how to prevent identity theft and handle it if it occurs. The number one target for identity theft, college students must be aware of their options when dealing with the constant threat of identity theft, and know what they can do if victimized. College students are an easy target for identity thieves. Students are often oblivious and unaware of the risks that come with the simplest things such as online shopping. “Identity theft might be the last thing on the minds of college students. This makes them an attractive target for thieves, who wait for them to unknowingly leave behind a trail of personal information, either online or with physical reach” (Hutson). Students do not always realize the risk of putting their personal information online. Online shopping often tempts students to save their personal information online for the sake of convenience. Saving information online is not a safe option, even on reputable shopping sites. The Internet is becoming a huge source of information for people seeking to steal identities. College students should avoid saving their information online to restrict the number of ways that people can gain access to their information. Another common medium for identity theft is mail fraud. People seeking to steal identities are known to go through people’s mail seeking bank and credit card statements (Perspective 19.2). College students should be careful with their mail and always dispose of finance related mail in a responsible manner. Mail theft and dumpster diving pose a great threat to students who fail to dispose of their mail responsibly. There are many