Identity Theft 1 College students have a lot to worry about: tests, quizzes, homework, organizations, and jobs. One thing they might not think they should worry about is identity theft. Identity theft is actually a big problem on college campuses and students are easy targets. Knowing how to protect yourself against identity theft is the first thing you need to do for yourself. 2 One of the major reasons why students are targets is because they are naive. Many students don't know or don't realize the dangers of giving out their personal information unless they have already been through it or they are older. A majority of the time, students get sucked into getting free stuff just for applying for a credit card. Students are one of the easiest targets for scammers (骗子). In order to protect yourself from having your identity stolen, you need to understand how scammers get your personal information. 3 For students, being frugal is just about a must. One of the costs they may skimp on is paying for their own Internet. Instead, they will log on to someone else's WiFi or an unsecured network. While this may cut down on costs while you are in college, there is a chance that someone will be able to get your personal information. These unsecured networks may be full of people who are simply sitting and waiting for you to log on to your bank account, shop online, apply for a job online, or apply for a credit card online. If you are going to shop online or do any of the previously mentioned activities, make sure you are on a secured network that has the proper privacy settings. 4 Something that students may not think about is shredding (撕碎) their documents. It is very easy for anyone to have their identity stolen if they don't shred important documents, bills, or even credit card offers. You should always shred anything that has any type of personal information, especially those with account numbers, your social security number, or even your birthday. If you get a credit card offer saying your name, stealing your identity. 5 While you have many things to think about while in college, you should always think about the information you are giving out. Remember never to give out your bank account information or PIN (personal identification number), even to a friend. A1so, watch out for scams (骗局) like signing up for a credit card to get a free shirt; your identity may not be stolen right away, but that information could be used in the future. Shred any and all personal documentation before throwing it away. Moreover, when you do shred your documentation, make sure it can't be put back together.