Find Answers You Are Looking For
Youth Resource CenterCrisis Info Line

Learning Tips

  • Sleep: Get a good night’s sleep so you feel rested, refreshed and ready to learn.

  • Attitude: Approach learning positively! Remind yourself that it’s good for you and it’s going to benefit you during your entire life.

  • Routine: Try to get into a stable routine that allows time to prepare for class, to do homework, etc.

  • Food: Eat nutritious meals and snacks. A balanced diet helps your brain work better. Berries, fresh veggies, nuts and fish are all good brain foods.

  • Exercise: Physical activity is good for your brain. Take a break and go for a walk, bikeride, rollerblade or some other activitiy whenever possible!

Identity Theft

 IDENTITY THEFT TIPS FOR TEENS 

Zach’s identity was stolen at age 7 but he wasn’t aware of the crime until 10 years later when he applied for his first job. He learned that he had two names listed under his Social Security number, a bad credit history, and someone had purchased a $40,000 boat under his name. 
 
Identity theft is a concern for all age groups but the   government agency that accepts identity fraud complaints, reports that the 18 to 29 year old age group is the group most likely to be victimized. They also report an increase in the number of complaints filed for victims 18 years old or under. 
 
Why are teens targeted? 
Theft goes undetected for years; Identity Theft can go unnoticed for years because teens have not established a credit record that can be monitored. They are unlikely to use their Social Security Number until they apply for a driver’s license, credit card or job and then discover someone else has been using their information. 
 
Internet Use: 
Teens are vulnerable to Identity Theft because of their frequent activity on the Internet. Sharing 
personal information on blogs or social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Friendster, or MySpace to name a few, without considering who may get access to the information is risky. 
 
More Casual Attitude: 
Teens tend to take greater risks relative to older age groups and feel that Identity Theft can’t 
happen to them. They have a more casual attitude about leaving their belongings unattended and providing personal information to their friends. 
 
How do the thieves get your identity? 
Thieves get information from teens in the same manner they get it from adults. They steal mail, 
burglarize homes and vehicles, hack into computer databases, send fraudulent e-mails or 
downloads, go through people’s trash, and take advantage of receipts, purses and wallets left 
unattended. Thieves also prowl Internet sites looking for weak security to obtain personal 
information. 
 
Unfortunately some identity thieves are known to the victim and could be a friend, co-worker, or 
family member. In the case of young children it could even be a parent who opens accounts in 
their child’s name because they have maxed out their own credit limits. 
 
Mary’s identity was stolen when she was age 14. She is now 22 years old and is $300,000 in 
debt.
 
Prevention Tips: 
  • Be careful about giving out personal information in person, over the telephone, and online 
  • Be careful about downloading music or other items on the computer 
  • Limit the amount of personal information you store on your cell phone and use your phone’s security features such as key lock so others cannot gain access 
  • Do not apply for multiple credit cards; set credit limits as low as possible on cards you have 
  • Monitor credit and bank account activity 
  • Shred documents with personal information before throwing them in the trash 
  • Protect computers, telephones, cellphones with strong passwords, ones that are 
  • difficult to guess such as a combination of numbers and letters. Do not use your mother’s maiden name or other identifying information that is easy for someone to guess 
  • Lock your computer so that others cannot gain access 
  • Never carry your Social Security card in a wallet or purse 
  • Be alert to your surroundings when using ATM machines. Protect your PIN; memorize it rather than writing it down and carrying it in your wallet 
  • Don’t be afraid to tell adults who ask for your Social Security number, driver’s license number or credit card information that you are not comfortable giving it out and you want to know how they will use it and how they will protect it 
  • Do not put your Social Security number on your resume 
  • Don’t leave your belongings unattended 
 
Protect your personal information.
Don’t think that Identity Theft cannot happen to you!
 

Back to Main Directory