LifeLock

It might come as a surprise, but it’s people in the 20 to 29-age bracket who are most likely to become identity theft victims, according to the Federal Trade Commission’s most recent Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book, released last month.

The FTC received more than 72,000 complaints from consumers in their 20s in 2008, nearly 25% of all the complaints they received last year. This statistic belies the belief commonly held by people who think they’re not likely to be targeted by identity thieves because they typically haven’t accumulated a lot of assets yet.

Part of the reason for their vulnerability is the high number of data breaches affecting universities. And, college students typically live in close quarters with other people who might or might not be trustworthy.

There are a few basic tools and skills to help protect the identities of people in this age group:

• A lock box or small safe to store Social Security cards, credit cards, financial statements and any mail containing personally identifying information. The box should be large enough to store a laptop computer.
• Home addresses are usually more secure than clustered dorm or apartment mailboxes. Never have mail delivered to clustered mailboxes during holiday breaks.
• Check all financial statements as soon as they arrive. Monitor new charges.
• Never lend credit cards or driver’s licenses. When people are stopped for traffic violations or more serious crimes, they frequently panic and might give police the wrong identification to protect their own identities.

LifeLock provides comprehensive and innovative identity theft protection services for as little as $9 a month. Visit LifeLock.com to learn more.