What can a teen, like myself, do to protect him/herself from identity theft?

Question

I'm just worried that I might lose my identity somehow.

I've read stories of high people have lost thousands of dollars to identity thieves.

Answer 1

Teen identity theft is real.  They are a clean slate.  But weather you are a teen, or an adult the biggest thing everyone can do, is look at your credit card bills, and mail.  

1. rip up and completely destroy all mail that has any personal info of yours. Especially credit card offers.

2. After you pay your bills do not just throw away the bill info.  Either save it or destroy it.  

3. Check your credit report at least once a year, better yet twice a year.

4. Never give personal info out unless you know who is asking and why.  If in doubt, ask your parents, or an adult friend to help out.

5. now a days mothers madden name is too easy to get. So companies ask you to make up a security question, and your answer.  

The answer does not have to make sense. Example what is your dogs name, Answer:  White horse. Makes no sense, but it will be your answer.

6. Never co-sign for someone.  Until you have a good job, and understand if someone fails to pay you are responsible. If you do not pay your word will not mean a thing when you really need it to. Like buying your own car, or a house, later in life.  

This is most of what your need to know. Good luck.

Answer 2

Call Transunion, Experian, and Equifax and list your name and social security number on the restricted list.  Then they can't give out your personal info to credit agencies without your consent.

Answer 3

If you don't have a lot of money, it doesn't matter - some clerk at Walmart stole my business card # and charged $298+ at Walmart(!) and another $120+ at Cato's and the officer (Bevil) told me to my face, "We won't waste a detectives time for that small of amount of money."

So, in my experience, it doesn't matter - if you're not wealthy even law enforcement won't "waste" their time pursuing it - yet they'll all be in on the very next car chase.

Answer 4

Social Security Number:  Don't carry your SSN card or anything else with your SSN on it.  If your SSN is on your driver's license, have it removed immediately!  Don't give your SSN to anybody except your bank or to your tax advisor/preparer.  Stores do NOT need it!  Neither do doctor's offices.

Birth Certificate:  Don't carry a copy!  Get a passport for travel.

Online purchases:  Not a good idea.

Mail:  Shred stuff with your name, address, and any account numbers.

Phone:  Don't ever respond to anybody who wants your bank account information because you have "won" something.  It's a scam to get your bank data so the scammer can clean out your account.

E-Mail:  There is a lot of e-mail asking people to confirm their information for a bank, E-Bay, etc.  Those are NOT legitimate and are wanting your personal data to clean out your bank accounts or get enough data to steal your identity.  Never respond to those!  IRS, banks, E-Bay, stores, etc. do NOT contact people by e-mail to confirm anything.  

Just because you may not have a lot of assets at the moment doesn't mean that identity theft isn't a risk for you, because it is!  Be careful!

By the way, there is reasonably priced insurance for ID theft that can be added to a homeowner or tenant insurance policy.  I pay $22 a year for that extra endorsement.  

Answer 5

Don't put any personal information on the web such as social security numbers, bank accounts, pass words or other personal info. Don't give out your information to anyone unless required by law.

Answer 6

becareful loggin on to websites you're not familiar with online, also have identity theft protection feature for your bank accounts, and oh yeah, you can also signed up for credit reports to be sent to your home regularly i.e. every 1 to 2 months.... I don't think really there's a way to prevented, but monitor it.....since those hackers/theft people out there are out to get ANY one..... and everyone is a target......

Answer 7

well let me tell you from experience. Say you are older and have gotten an apartment and a roomie or two. Your roomie starts nosying through your paperwork and finds your social. Or someone drives through the 'hood taking stuff out of your mailbox namely credit card apps and then they fill out a change of address in your name so that when they run up the credit card that is in your name all the bills go to a different address and you never ever find out until someone checks your credit and it is so bad they will not let you have what you applied for. How about this? You have bought a house now and someone manufactures a drivers license to look like you and goes and applies for a deed of trust on your mortgage......and gets it! It is hard to make them believe you did not get that 25,000 bucks..TRUST ME!  

Answer 8

Just don't give out your SS to anyone unless you are buying a car, house or otherwise need it....don't ever give it over the phone.  Shred any documents that have your name, address, and most important SS in which you want to throw away.  That's how most people get their IDs stolen. People go through your garbage to obtain info that might be damaging to you  

Answer 9

im judging that you dont have thousands of dollars so you got nothing to worry about.

P.S. whats your mothers maiden name? just out of curiosity!

Answer 10

being a teen, you don't have much of an identity to steal...

Answer 11

1. Change your e-mail password every 3 months. Do NOT use your birthdate or a pet's name.

2. Shred all of your mail after you read it. Those little offers for credit cards can ruin your life.

3. If you fill out paperwork of any kind, you should place copies in a safe or safety deposit box. Extras should be shredded. This is true of your FAFSA as well.

4. Never leave your ID or credit cards in your purse or book bag. Keep them on your person.

5. If you can't keep an eye on your purse or book bag, then leave it at home.

6. Never give out your locker combination to ANYONE. Keep in mind that just because there is a lock on it does not mean that your belongings are truly secure.

7. Do not answer e-mails that ask you for your password. Period. It is ALWAYS a scam.

8. Do not access your e-mail or your bank from your phone. Just don't do it. Your cell phone is a lovely target.

Answer 12

Don't put your social security number on anything especially your computer. Don't get a credit card, pay cash for everything. Don't do any purchases online. You can also sign up for lifelock or a service like it to protect your identity if you can afford it.