Summer is gone! fall is here! so it’s once again back to school time.
Upon visiting U.S. colleges of veterinary medicine, I typically ask if any students have fallen prey to identity theft or credit card fraud. To date, every class has had one or more students answer affirmatively. Credit cards have become a staple in today’s campus life. Yet, these critical and very personal tools in our daily life are at risk.
Even your residence may not be secure. Criminals often engage in “dumpster diving,” going through your garbage cans or a communal dumpster or trash bin — to obtain copies of your checks, credit card or bank statements, or other records that typically bear your name, address, and even your telephone number. These types of records make it easier for criminals to get control over accounts in your name and assume your identity.
If you receive applications for “pre-approved” credit cards in the mail, but discard them without tearing up the enclosed materials, criminals may retrieve them and try to activate the cards for their use without your knowledge. If your mail is delivered to a place where others have ready access to it, criminals may simply intercept the contents.
While nothing can guarantee you won’t become a victim of identity theft, you can minimize your risk by making it more difficult for identity thieves to access your personal information.
-Protect your Social Security number
-Be careful on the Internet. Providing tips to help secure your identy, the federal government developed the website OnGuardOnline
-Choose creative passwords, and change them periodically
-Never give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or on the internet unless you’ve initiated the contact
-Safeguard your purse or wallet
-Store information securely
I hope these few tips protect your financial (and mental) health and future.
For more information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft, see the federal government’s web site.