How safe is your identity?
E-mails and credit card applications are perfect resources for identity thieves
Catherine Klene
Issue date: 8/22/08 Section: News
Schmoll said victims of identity theft often don't even know until they are contacted by their credit card companies or banks.
"A lot of times, the credit card companies contact them," Schmoll said. "They see an unusual (purchase) pattern and contact the person."
Yarbrough said the Bank of Edwardsville monitors accounts for unusual purchases. For example, she said, an account with several charges in Edwardsville and suddenly one in London would raise the bank's suspicions and would prompt them to contact the account holder.
"We don't catch everything, but we do what we can," Yarbrough said.
Yarbrough said if a Bank of Edwardsville account holder becomes a victim of identity theft, they should immediately call and cancel the debit card. The customer is only liable for $50 of the stolen funds, and Yarbrough said generally the stolen money can be returned.
"Normally they end up getting all of their funds back," Yarbrough said.
Financial loss is the most obvious consequence of identity theft, Schmoll said, but the time and frustration involved trying to fix the problem can be equally taxing.
"With that financial loss, your credit score will suffer, too," Schmoll said.
Schmoll said while identity theft is not a large problem at SIUE, students at the university get their "fair share" of identity theft.
Director of Telecommunications Dan Chace said passwords play a key role in identity theft protection and recommended using the same guidelines offered for e-ID password creation.
"The best way (for students) to protect themselves is to not share passwords," Chace said.
If an e-ID is stolen, Chace said students should immediately change their password and contact OIT to let them know the account has been compromised.
Students who find themselves the victims of identify theft on campus should contact the SIUE Police, as well as the banks or credit card companies involved with the theft. In instances where purchases are made out of state, the FBI is contacted to assist with the investigation.
"These investigations are usually very lengthy," Schmoll said.
Chace said ultimately, most identity theft is done out of spite.
"It's usually just malicious people doing nasty things to each other," Chace said.
"A lot of times, the credit card companies contact them," Schmoll said. "They see an unusual (purchase) pattern and contact the person."
Yarbrough said the Bank of Edwardsville monitors accounts for unusual purchases. For example, she said, an account with several charges in Edwardsville and suddenly one in London would raise the bank's suspicions and would prompt them to contact the account holder.
"We don't catch everything, but we do what we can," Yarbrough said.
Yarbrough said if a Bank of Edwardsville account holder becomes a victim of identity theft, they should immediately call and cancel the debit card. The customer is only liable for $50 of the stolen funds, and Yarbrough said generally the stolen money can be returned.
"Normally they end up getting all of their funds back," Yarbrough said.
Financial loss is the most obvious consequence of identity theft, Schmoll said, but the time and frustration involved trying to fix the problem can be equally taxing.
"With that financial loss, your credit score will suffer, too," Schmoll said.
Schmoll said while identity theft is not a large problem at SIUE, students at the university get their "fair share" of identity theft.
Director of Telecommunications Dan Chace said passwords play a key role in identity theft protection and recommended using the same guidelines offered for e-ID password creation.
"The best way (for students) to protect themselves is to not share passwords," Chace said.
If an e-ID is stolen, Chace said students should immediately change their password and contact OIT to let them know the account has been compromised.
Students who find themselves the victims of identify theft on campus should contact the SIUE Police, as well as the banks or credit card companies involved with the theft. In instances where purchases are made out of state, the FBI is contacted to assist with the investigation.
"These investigations are usually very lengthy," Schmoll said.
Chace said ultimately, most identity theft is done out of spite.
"It's usually just malicious people doing nasty things to each other," Chace said.
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