New Web site from MUPD helps students prevent identity theft

Keeping personal information safe is important to preventing the theft.

By Stephanie Clark

Published Feb. 16, 2009

With identity theft being a major issue in the U.S., especially among college-aged students, the MU Police Department has a Web site to help further avoid becoming a victim.

"The Web site provides information to members of the community on how to prevent identity theft," MUPD Capt. Brian Weimer said. "It's intended to provide preventative information to protect potential victims from identity theft, as well as hoping those individuals who have previously been affected by it."

Weimer got most of the information featured on the Web site from the First National Bank.

"I gained information from what they had posted on their Web site and contacted them for permission to use it on ours," Weimer said. "They were very kind through the process."

The MUPD Web site offers advice to students and members of the Columbia community about specific ways to protect their personal information.

The Web site advises students to keep their social security, credit card and bank account numbers confidential. If a criminal is in possession of these numbers, it makes it easier to steal more information.

In an effort to prevent these numbers from getting into the hands of others, social security cards, birth certificates and passports should be kept in a secure area and not carried around in public. ATM receipts and pre-approved credit cards should be kept in a safe area or shredded before being thrown away to prevent thieves from accessing valuable information, according to the Web site.

The Web site also advises students to contact credit report companies to assess their file and to validate the correct information. Credit report documentation can be purchased for a small fee through three credit bureaus, which can be found on the MUPD Web site.

MUPD also provides information for victims of identity theft, as well as additional Web sites and telephone numbers to contact in case of an issue.

In the case of identity crime, the site advises to contact the police, credit card providers, the Federal Trade Commission and the bank immediately. The Web site provides information about how to get in contact with the FTC.

"Preventative measures are listed on the site," Weimer said. "What students should remember is that it's very important to be very careful in regards to credit cards, ID's, receipts, and even mail. If identity theft does occur, the important thing to do is call the police department."

Although MUPD tries to help students affected by identity theft, it doesn't happen often on campus.

"Identity theft is not a common crime that we see on the MU campus, but it does occur," Weimer said.