The U.S. Department of Education has launched a Web site throughthe Office of Inspector General to warn students about the dangersof identity theft.
College students are more susceptible to identity theft becausestudent data is generally more open and available, due primarily tothe transaction processes that occur in colleges and the waystudents handle personal information, according towww.ed.gov/misused.
U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige said the U.S Department ofEducation has taken several steps to put an end to identity thefton college campuses, in a December 2003 statement.
The Web site is one of the department's first initiatives in thewar against identity theft, said representatives in the U.S. Officeof the Inspector General.
"With the proper safeguards, students can secure theirinformation and prevent criminals from destroying their good nameand record," Paige said. "That's why we're launching an intenseeffort to reach college students and graduates about how they canguard against identity theft."
Identity theft is when a person's identification is used withouthis or her permission or knowledge to commit fraud, according tothe Web site. This includes,but is not limited to ordering orbuying items, accessing money, getting jobs and committingcrimes.
"Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes againstconsumers," Paige said. "In 2003, it affected nearly 10 millionpeople and cost victims more than $5 million. And it can affect allof us -- including students."
Along with defining identity theft, the Web site also givesstudents several ways to prevent themselves from falling victim toidentity theft as well as ways to report fraudulent behavior.
"Most students are well informed about the basic rules forprotecting their physical well being and possessions -- rules likewalking in well-lit areas, traveling in groups and locking theirdoors and windows. But too many students don't know the basics ofprotecting their identities," Paige said.
The U of M has had a few identity theft scares, but they haven'tbeen related directly to the students, said Derek Myers, deputydirector of University of Memphis Police Services.
"We had two people contact us, one from Arkansas and the otherfrom out West, saying there had been charges on their (credit)reports from The U of M, but neither of them had ever attended thisschool," Myers said.
One U of M student did contact Police Services and said herinformation had been stolen here, but that has not been confirmed,Myers said. Students should shred their mail and make sure it isdestroyed.
"If you get a free credit card offer, someone can put a newaddress on it and get the credit," Myers said.
U of M junior LaTonya Turner said more students need to beinformed about identity theft, so she said she is glad theDepartment of Education is doing something about it.
"It is scary. It is one thing to have your property stolen, butto have your identity -- who you are -- stolen, well that is justdownright scary," Turner, 21, said.
Turner said she will be much more cautious with her checkbook,credit cards and other forms of identification.
"Victims of identity theft can spend months or even yearsclearing the damage caused to their reputations and creditrecords," Paige said. "During the time it takes them to resolvethese issues, they could possibly miss out on job opportunities andbe refused student loans, a mortgage or car loans. We want to helpstudents prevent those headaches."
Go to www.ed.gov/misused or call 1-800-MISUSED for moreinformation about identification theft.
