How To Protect Myself From Identity Theft

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How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

  • Check your credit and debit card balances regularly
    • Look for purchases you don't remember making
  • Shred papers with any personal information before throwing them away
  • Watch your mail/junk mail
  • Keep your drivers license and Social Security Number in different places
  • Don't click on links or pop ups, even if they seem legitimate
  • Don't open suspicious emails
  • Send documents to your home address rather than your dorm address

How to Protect Yourself from Scams

  • Avoid giving out personal information over the phone or online
  • You do not need to give your Social Security Number to employers unless you have accepted a job
  • Err on the side of caution, it's better to be safe than sorry
  • People on the other end should be understanding if you're cautious about giving away personal information
  • Look for grammatical errors in emails or websites
  • If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
    • For example: if an unknown employer offers you a job you did not apply for, it probably isn't a legitimate job offering