Tips for Teens to Prevent ID Theft

(ARA) – Before he was even in high school, Zach Friesen had bad credit.

Now a 20-year-old college student at the University of Colorado, Friesen’s identity was stolen when he was just 7 years old. The thief used Friesen’s personal information to buy a $40,000 houseboat, then defaulted on the debt. Friesen didn’t discover the theft – and resulting damage to his credit – until he applied for his first job at age 17.

“My story isn’t that uncommon,” says Friesen. “In fact, the largest target for identity thieves is young people, ages 18-29, according to a 2003 Federal Trade Commission study.”

“Teens are targeted because they have clean credit and don’t check their credit reports,” says Melodi Mosley Gates, director of risk management and chief information security officer for Qwest Communications. Friesen now works with Qwest to raise teens’ awareness of the threat of identity theft. Through Qwest’s awareness program, he urges teens to visit AnnualCreditReport.com, where they can obtain free copies of their credit reports once per year. He also visits high schools across the country to share his story, tips and to gather information about teens and technology.

Teens are also at risk for identity theft because they use the Internet and aren’t careful enough about the type of personal identifying information they give out online. At parents and teens can learn how to use the Internet safely and effectively anwww.incredibleInternet.comd find ways to protect themselves from identity theft. There, teens can also take an online credit report tutorial to understand how to read a credit report.

“Qwest was among the first to recognize that young people are the number one target for identity thieves,” says Mosley Gates. “While there are nationwide efforts in place to reduce the incidence of and raise awareness for identity theft, teens are being overlooked as a key audience. With the right information disseminated to teens before they receive their first driver’s license, checking account or credit card, Qwest believes teens can learn how to protect themselves from identity thieves.”

The following tips for protecting your identity provide a good guide for all ages:

• Shred all documents that contain personal financial information before throwing them away.
• Review your credit card and bank statements monthly. Watch for unfamiliar transactions.
• Do not print your Social Security Number on your checks and driver’s license.
• Do not send mail from an unsecured mailbox. Identity thieves often try to steal your outgoing mail.
• When online, never provide financial information unless you initiate the transaction.
• Do not respond to any e-mail that requests personal and financial information.

For more information about identity theft and online safety, visit www.incredibleinternet.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content