The ABCs of ID Theft

What's in a Name?

You probably know all too well how much students love to exchange instant messages with their friends, send e-mail, and surf the Web. Computers have opened up new worlds of exploration and communication, but sensible explorers set out well prepared for their adventures. The Internet is a fascinating educational tool, and as with any other tool, a little instruction on safe use goes a long way.

You and your students may not know that computer-based identity theft costs consumers billions of dollars every year, and very few identity theft crimes (1 in 700) result in convictions.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, 31 percent of reported victims of identity theft are young people. Teenagers make attractive targets because they have good credit ratings and little debt, and they tend to be less savvy than adults about keeping personal information secure.

What Thieves Want

Identity thieves steal information—names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, passwords, or credit card numbers—to create fraudulent credit accounts =that enable them to purchase cell phones, order merchandise, even take out home loans. With just a name and Social Security number, a thief can forge an identity that can end up costing your students and their parents money, lost time, and embarrassment.

Next: Learn how you can help your students avoid identity theft.

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