Students and Social Networking sites: Favorite targets... for thieves!
Denise Richardson
November 11, 2007
It is probably no surprise to most adults that identity theft is one of the fastest growing types of fraud. But what may be more alarming is that people in the 18 to 29 age range are the fastest growing group of victims. One need not look too far to figure out why.
Today’s young people have grown up in a digital society. They routinely post their personal information on websites like MySpace and Facebook. Often, they provide much more information than they should, e.g. their full names, addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, employers’, pets’ and friends’ names or places they like to hang out, all of which leaves them (and their parents) susceptible to criminal activities. While college students may think they’re only sharing innocuous tidbits of personal information on public websites, these “tidbits,” once collected and assembled, can provide a thief with enough data to wreak havoc in one’s life and finances.
If students are not vigilant about protecting their credit identities, they run the risk of having their credit ratings destroyed if they fall victim to identity theft.
So what can students (or any of us) do to avoid being victimized by a thief? Remember - knowledge is power and in the world of credit and fraud, it’s what you don't know that will hurt you!
Here are 10 tips (and warnings) to keep in mind...
1. Monitor bank, credit card and loan statements. If you are expecting a bill that doesn’t come, contact your account holder immediately. If you see any unexpected spikes in your interest rates, contact your creditor. Unexpected interest rate spikes can be a tip off that erroneous information is contaminating your credit report. Watch for withdrawals or charges you did not make!
2. Be watchful of people lurking nearby while using ATMs, credit cards, checks and your computer. Thieves will often hover near you to steal account and PIN numbers; they are trained to memorize credit card and account numbers.
3. Always delete any personal information and passwords you may have entered into a shared computer. You never know who is going to be using it next and you never know if the computer is already infected with key-logging spy ware that collects bits of information on you with every stroke you make on the keyboard.
4. Make sure all correspondence mailed to you has your correct name and address. If there are name variations, contact the sender and ask why you are receiving it. When throwing out documents that contain personal information…SHRED them into small pieces.
5. Safeguard your laptop. Over the last 6 months, many of the data breaches that have occurred have happened through the theft of laptops. Always make sure that your laptop is password protected, and armed with a firewall and up-to-date virus protection software –at all times.
6. Monitor your credit reports. Look for any name, address or open accounts that are not yours. Dispute all inaccuracies via certified mail. Place fraud alerts on your credit reports. Remember, they fall off every 90 days or so. (Credit freezes are now available but you need to determine if you will be seeking credit in the near future as you will have to pay to freeze it and then pay again to unfreeze it). Determine which safety measure is best for your particular situation.
7. Remember profiles and posts are never private. Current and prospective employers often Google your name in order to see what your interests are, what is on your personal page and what others have to say about you.
8. Keep you Social Security number, passwords and PIN's safeguarded -and never carry them in your wallet.
9. Beware of “phishing” scams. Never provide any personal information such as your Social Security number, bank account numbers or credit card data to anyone who contacts you via telephone solicitation, email or through social networking sites. Oftentimes, scam emails and phone calls will appear authentic and urgent -but they are not! If you receive a notice from someone instructing you to dial an 800 number, first check your statement or legitimate documentation for the valid phone number. Fake websites and bogus 800 numbers are often included in “phishing” email scams, which are designed to appear urgent –don’t fall for them. Legitimate companies will not ask for personal information through email.
10. Prevent thieves from cracking passwords. Pick Passwords and profiles carefully. Pet names, birth dates, hometown and interests such as favorite sport team or band, favorite hangouts, hobbies, as well as spouses and children’s names are often compiled in passwords and thieves know this. They use these bits of information to crack your password and then get into your email, bank accounts or other online sites you frequent such as Amazon, Itunes –or anywhere you utilize your private password.
Do you know what lies within your credit report?
It is not just online behavior that can lead to credit trouble. It's widely reported that 1 in 4 credit reports have errors. If you don't review your credit reports you may be paying for someone else's mistakes without knowing about it.
When an ID theft occurs (or inaccurate credit reporting), interest rates rise –and so do your credit card payments. When unpaid bogus accounts contaminate credit reports, it can take months or years to fix the mess, leaving one to pay higher auto insurance and credit card payments due to your now lowered credit scores. Once affordable payments quickly grow out of control when interest rates rise -causing your payments to suddenly double or even triple -without warning.
To get your free annual credit reports, it's as easy as calling one quick toll free automated number: 877-322-8228.
Today’s young people have grown up in a digital society. They routinely post their personal information on websites like MySpace and Facebook. Often, they provide much more information than they should, e.g. their full names, addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, employers’, pets’ and friends’ names or places they like to hang out, all of which leaves them (and their parents) susceptible to criminal activities. While college students may think they’re only sharing innocuous tidbits of personal information on public websites, these “tidbits,” once collected and assembled, can provide a thief with enough data to wreak havoc in one’s life and finances.
If students are not vigilant about protecting their credit identities, they run the risk of having their credit ratings destroyed if they fall victim to identity theft.
So what can students (or any of us) do to avoid being victimized by a thief? Remember - knowledge is power and in the world of credit and fraud, it’s what you don't know that will hurt you!
Here are 10 tips (and warnings) to keep in mind...
1. Monitor bank, credit card and loan statements. If you are expecting a bill that doesn’t come, contact your account holder immediately. If you see any unexpected spikes in your interest rates, contact your creditor. Unexpected interest rate spikes can be a tip off that erroneous information is contaminating your credit report. Watch for withdrawals or charges you did not make!
2. Be watchful of people lurking nearby while using ATMs, credit cards, checks and your computer. Thieves will often hover near you to steal account and PIN numbers; they are trained to memorize credit card and account numbers.
3. Always delete any personal information and passwords you may have entered into a shared computer. You never know who is going to be using it next and you never know if the computer is already infected with key-logging spy ware that collects bits of information on you with every stroke you make on the keyboard.
4. Make sure all correspondence mailed to you has your correct name and address. If there are name variations, contact the sender and ask why you are receiving it. When throwing out documents that contain personal information…SHRED them into small pieces.
5. Safeguard your laptop. Over the last 6 months, many of the data breaches that have occurred have happened through the theft of laptops. Always make sure that your laptop is password protected, and armed with a firewall and up-to-date virus protection software –at all times.
6. Monitor your credit reports. Look for any name, address or open accounts that are not yours. Dispute all inaccuracies via certified mail. Place fraud alerts on your credit reports. Remember, they fall off every 90 days or so. (Credit freezes are now available but you need to determine if you will be seeking credit in the near future as you will have to pay to freeze it and then pay again to unfreeze it). Determine which safety measure is best for your particular situation.
7. Remember profiles and posts are never private. Current and prospective employers often Google your name in order to see what your interests are, what is on your personal page and what others have to say about you.
8. Keep you Social Security number, passwords and PIN's safeguarded -and never carry them in your wallet.
9. Beware of “phishing” scams. Never provide any personal information such as your Social Security number, bank account numbers or credit card data to anyone who contacts you via telephone solicitation, email or through social networking sites. Oftentimes, scam emails and phone calls will appear authentic and urgent -but they are not! If you receive a notice from someone instructing you to dial an 800 number, first check your statement or legitimate documentation for the valid phone number. Fake websites and bogus 800 numbers are often included in “phishing” email scams, which are designed to appear urgent –don’t fall for them. Legitimate companies will not ask for personal information through email.
10. Prevent thieves from cracking passwords. Pick Passwords and profiles carefully. Pet names, birth dates, hometown and interests such as favorite sport team or band, favorite hangouts, hobbies, as well as spouses and children’s names are often compiled in passwords and thieves know this. They use these bits of information to crack your password and then get into your email, bank accounts or other online sites you frequent such as Amazon, Itunes –or anywhere you utilize your private password.
Do you know what lies within your credit report?
It is not just online behavior that can lead to credit trouble. It's widely reported that 1 in 4 credit reports have errors. If you don't review your credit reports you may be paying for someone else's mistakes without knowing about it.
When an ID theft occurs (or inaccurate credit reporting), interest rates rise –and so do your credit card payments. When unpaid bogus accounts contaminate credit reports, it can take months or years to fix the mess, leaving one to pay higher auto insurance and credit card payments due to your now lowered credit scores. Once affordable payments quickly grow out of control when interest rates rise -causing your payments to suddenly double or even triple -without warning.
To get your free annual credit reports, it's as easy as calling one quick toll free automated number: 877-322-8228.