As University of Memphis students prepare for holiday shopping, safety precautions are becoming more important.
Mahamad Barry, a sophomore, said staying alert and away from drinking before shopping or partying can help ensure increase safety during the holidays.
"Some people like to have too much fun during the holidays and forget about safety," Barry said. "I worry about (my wallet being stolen) when I shop but I just have to be cautious at anytime of the day."
Identity theft is the top concern among consumers contacting the Federal Trade Commission, according to the Identity Theft Resource Nonprofit Organization.
The organization works to prevent and recover an individual's identity from theft or fraud. Some victims take years to recover.
"A big increase of identity theft caseloads start right after Thanksgiving," said Sgt. Terrie LeBlanc of the Economic Crimes Bureau at the Memphis Police Department. "The biggest victims are women."
LeBlanc said not having your birth certificate or Social Security Identification card in your purse, wallet or on your driver license can prevent many theft cases from happening.
"If you carry a purse, zip it up because crooks are watching you," she said. "Don't give out information, don't write (your) pin (number) on (your) bank card and keep a tight grip on your checkbook."
Even though LeBlanc said that women are mainly the target of identity theft, Jason Fletcher, an accounting major at U of M, believes otherwise.
"Men get pick-pocketed as much as women get their purse snatched," he said. "If I was a victim of identity theft, I would call Discover, MasterCard or American Express to see what kind of transactions were made in the last couple of weeks."
Officer Marlon Jones of the Bartlett Police Department said there are procedures that victims take when making a complaint on fraud or identity theft.
"Make a police report and call the credit report agency," he said. "The credit agency will flag your SSI (card) when someone attempts to get credit and then it becomes an investigation."
Jones said taking your ID out of your purse, keeping it out of shopping carts and placing your wallet in your front pocket can reduce the risk of robbery and theft as well.
Department stores check identification more than usual during the holidays because of the increase in identity theft and fraud. However, according to the FTC, 53 percent of thefts were reported from Internet companies in 2004.
According to ITR, 85 percent of victims found out about their identity being stolen due to denied credit or employment and notification by collection agency.
"I shop more online during the holidays and I check my account daily," said Lauren Jackson, a hospitality and resort management major. "I make sure I'm on a secure computer when I use my bank card or credit card."
Jackson said that even though she prefers to shop online, she shops during the daytime.
"It's better to shop in the daytime because there is a lot around," she said. "That way you won't be in the parking lot alone."
