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Identity theft can happen to anyone |
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Tuesday, 27 February 2007 |
Editor’s Note: This is the first of a three-part series on identity theft.
by JAMISON DORAN
News Reporter
The Federal Trade Commission reports identity theft affects nine million people each year, yet some are still ignorant about the issue.
“We find that people don’t really know exactly what identity theft is and therefore don’t know the proper ways to protect themselves,” Paul Stephens, a policy analyst for the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, said.
Identity theft, in its most basic sense, is when someone steals your
identity, whether to use your banking information to make purchases,
use your information to gain credit or to hide their own identity for
whatever reason, Stephens said.
While purchasing products online can make someone more susceptible to victimization of identity theft, it can happen to anyone.
“While I’ve never personally assisted a student with legal advice
regarding identity theft, I do know that it is a serious issue and one
that students need to take seriously,” Karla P. Rusch, assistant
director for the Office of Student Conduct, said.
Sometimes identity theft isn’t even used for monetary purposes, although those are the main cases that are seen.
There have been cases where people assume someone else’s identity on a
Web site in order to slander that person or to make them look like they
said things that they really haven’t, Stephens said.
In any identity theft case, there is the potential for severe damages.
According to the Federal Trade Commission’s Web site on identity theft,
victims have lost job opportunities, been denied loans for education,
and have even been arrested for crimes that they have not committed.
“I think sometimes people get in the mindset that it can’t happen in
our relatively small town or that it can’t happen to them, but this is
a crime that can strike anyone,” Rusch said.
While there is no data showing whether or not college students are
easier targets for identity theft, they could potentially pay heavier
prices if they do become victims.
It is possible for a student to be denied loans because of a bad credit score that they had no part in making, Stephens said.
“Serious consequences for everyone involved can arise and that’s why
it’s important for everyone to become educated on what identity theft
is so they can quickly determine whether or not they have been
victimized,” Stephens said.
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