Identity Theft

Student Activity Packet

Name: Jazmine Alvarado Ortiz and Mariel Eguia

Students will be able to:

● Identify different types of identity theft, how they can occur, and the impact they can have on someone’s
life
● Take measures to protect their personal information
● Understand current trends about identity theft
● Outline what steps to take if they are a victim of identity theft

INTRO

VIDEO: How to Recognize Identity Theft and What to Do About It

INFOGRAPHIC: 10 Tips for Data Breach Victims
As you’ve learned throughout this lesson, you can’t guarantee that you will be safe from ID theft
even if you take all of the preventative measures. Watch this video and investigate the infographic
to find out what you should do if you find your personal information has been compromised.
Then, answer the questions.

1. How can filing a report with the FTC assist you if you’ve been a victim of identity theft?
It helps with the paperwork you will need to fill out and help track the status of your
identity theft. The FTC has letters that you send to banks, credit card companies, and
debt collectors to inform them of the identity theft.

2. Besides filing a report with the FTC, write down the 3 steps you should take if you
believe your identity has been compromised.
- cancel any credit/debit cards to prevent further damage
- Monitor accounts
- Try to identify when the identity could have happened
 DO IT

ACTIVITY:

COMPARE: Types of Identity Theft

Identity theft affects millions of people in the U.S. and can sometimes have a devastating financial
and emotional impact on its victims. Being aware of the ways in which identity theft can occur
and knowing what steps you can take to protect your information is essential to avoiding being a
victim of identity theft.
In this activity, you will conduct research on different types of identity theft and how they occur.
Then, you’ll learn more about how you can protect your personal information.

Part I: Types of Identity Theft

1. Conduct research online to fill out the table below for each type of identity theft listed.

Type of Identity How can this type of

Description
Theft ID theft occur?
A type of identity theft that happens when You can unknowingly give an
someone uses your Social Security Number untrustworthy person your social
Social Security to get other personal information about security number or they can find
Identity Theft you. it if it was left in a unsecured
location.

A type of identity theft that happens when This can happen when someone
someone uses your personal information to has your important personal
Tax Identity Theft commit tax fraud. This can affect your taxes information and banking
and your ability to information.

A type of identity theft when someone uses This occurs when someone has
your personal information to apply for your personal information and
Medical Identity Theft Medicare and other health insurances banking on formation without
without your knowledge. your knowledge. Your personal
information can be found in the
trash, pieces of papers or your
mail.

A type of identity theft that occurs when This occurs when the fraudulent
someone steals your Social Security number applicant was disqualified from
Employment Identity and other personally identifiable work in a way.
Theft information to apply for a job in your name.
 Identity theft when someone uses a minor Public records, including social
child’s personal information, such as name media, medical forms, and
and Social Security number, usually to school forms, makes gaining
Child Identity Theft obtain credit or employment. these types of information quick.

Identity theft that occurs when someone People who have large amounts
uses another person’s personally identifying of personal information, like data
Criminal Identity Theft information, like a person’s name, Social brokers or insiders at companies
Security number, or credit card number or that collect and store data.
another financial information, without People also find this information
permission, to commit fraud or other online through public records.
crimes.

Part II: Reflection

2. While you can’t guarantee that you will never be targeted for identity theft, there are many
steps you can take to protect your personal information to minimize the chances of having
your identity stolen. Name at least 2 possible actions you can take to prevent having your
identity stolen.
- keep personal information safe
- Monitor banking accounts for any suspicious behavior or activity

3. What challenges do you anticipate in implementing some of the above steps? Explain.
I would expect a struggle with monitoring my banking accounts. I would most likely
forget some days.
 LEARN IT

ARTICLE: Trends in Identity Theft

As we complete more of our transactions online, our personal information is increasingly subject
to being stolen and used by identity thieves. Use this report to learn about the current trends on
identity theft and answer the questions.

1. The number one type of identity theft also showed a considerably higher increase in
frequency starting in 2020. What is this type of identity theft? Why do you think there
was such an extreme increase?
Government Documents or Benefits Fraud. I believe there was such an increase because of
the Coronavirus epidemic causing many to go unemployed and become poor.

2. Credit card fraud comprises the second largest group of identity thefts. Looking on
page 14, what type of credit card fraud is the most common?
New accounts are the most common.

3. Take a look at the graph on page 15. How would you describe the trends for each of the
top 3 types of ID theft?
The relationship between the 3 types are proportional, the amount of identity theft reports
being proportionate to each other. When one increases , the other does as well. The most
common is government documents or benefit frauds.

4. What type of ID theft occurs MOST often for people age 19 and under? How does this
compare to the most common type of ID theft for the 20-29 and 30-39 age groups?
employment or Tax-Related Fraud (19 & under)
Credit card fraud (20-29)
Credit card fraud (30-39)
Employment or Tax-Related Fraud is more common in younger adults because they are
new to the financial world. Credit card fraud is more common in 20-39 yrs old because they
are most likely to start/open a new credit card and be irresponsible with the information
along with the card.

5. Identify one key takeaway you have from looking at the latest identity theft trends.
When I first become an adult, all my personal information would be held in a safe and
secure location, only known to me.