The College Student's Guide to Identity Theft

One of the saddening things about embarking on a college career today is the likelihood that identity theft is a real threat. With the advent of the Internet and quickly vended goods and services online, anyone with a stolen credit card or even sometimes just the number can obtain valuable things to resell or enjoy the use of fraudulently.

Identity theft is everywhere, and can be committed by anyone, from a casual opportunist to those working in professional criminal enterprises. Identity theft is the misuse of identification and personal information given uniquely to one individual, such a birth certificate, driver's license, social security number credit card account number, as well as many other kinds of fraud.

College students need to be aware that for certain kinds of identity theft they are not only easy targets, but the ramifications of an identity theft from information stolen in college may occur much later in the lives and careers when real harm may be done. Students are uniquely vulnerable since often identification requirements may be waived due to student status.

Identity theft is easier when a variety of information is stolen and used. The more information about a person other people know, the more flexibility they have in using their identity. Background information, such as a mother's maiden name place of birth, or birthplace location, can be used to secure a private account or gain access to a bank account or other point of secure online entry.

Identity theft may be executed to represent someone who has no right to live in this country, someone who intends to commit a criminal act, or someone who is trying to gain access to secured premises or resources. Identity theft can mean something as simple as a home address may be later used to set up account or register for services that are not for the person whose information it is.