Identitytheft

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IDENTITY THEFT

What is Identity Theft? FTC Videos

Why Care

How it Happens

SCAMS

What to do if it happens

Identity theft is when someone steals personal information and uses it, such as your:

Name & address
Social security number
Credit card number & expiration date
ATM/Debit card number and personal identification number

Why Should I Care About Identity Theft?

Because those between the ages of 24 and 30 are the second largest group of victims.

Unfortunately, it is typically commited by someone you know - an acquaintance, roommate, and even family member.

How it Happens?

Below is a list of the common ways.

Type	Method
Shoulder surfing	By l istening or reading about your personal information
Dumpster diving	Looking in garbage and dumpsters for information.
Internet hacking	Accessing your information via the Internet.
Stealing	Taking your wallet or laptop when you aren't looking.
Phishing	Sending pop-up messages to your computer requesting information.
Scam	Selling you something that may not exist.
Fraud	Misrepresenting the truth.

How to Avoid Identity Theft - think S. C. A. M. S.

Share your personal information on with those you trust or know.

Check your financial information regularly and look for what should be there and what shouldn't.

Access your credit report periodically to review it for accuracy.

Maintain your personal records.

Shred any documents with personal information when discarding them.

It is important to protect any personal information, including:

Bank account information.
Credit and debit numbers.
Personal identification numbers.
Passwords.
Social security numbers.
Incoming and outgoing mail.
Bank statements, utilities bills, phone bills, insurance bills and other payments.
Online information.

What to do if It Happens to You

You will need to take action to report that you either know or suspect it has happened. It important to contact these organizations to put it on record that you may be a victim of identity theft.

Towson University Police.
Office of Technology Services.
Call the Federal Trade Commission's ID Theft Clearance house for detailed action:

- 1-877-438-4338 toll free
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.

Financial Services
Administration Building, Fourth Floor (map) (How to use the map link)
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Phone: 410-704-5269
Fax: 410-704-4910
E-mail: mfortier@towson.edu

The 2 biggests myths college students have about identity theft:

• I don't have anything valuable a thief would want;

• It's not going to happen to me!

If you have just one credit card with a $10,000 blance and a 12% interest rate, it will take you an average of 24.9 years to pay this off while making the minimum payment.