Credit union sponsored Credit University came to Auburn Mountainview High School this week, but one student already knew quite a a bit about identity theft and credit.
Melodi was really looking forward to her weekend. Her friend had just gotten a new car, and they’d planned a ride into the city followed by a little exploration of downtown Seattle. She had no idea she was about to be a victim of a crime.
Melodi knew she’d be walking around for a couple hours and decided to keep her purse safe, locked in the back of her friend’s car. The hatchback had tinted windows that almost completely obscured the purse in the back of the car. Almost, but not quite.
After an afternoon of fun, Melodi and her friend returned to the car only to discover the window had been smashed out. Melodi’s purse was gone. In her purse was her new digital camera, her iPod Touch, and a wallet that contained her driver’s license and debit cards. The adjacent two cars had also been broken into.
Instantly, Melodi and her friend sprung into action and followed the protocol to limit the damage done. First, they called the police. Now with a police report in hand, Melodi will be ready to combat any potential financial issues that arise due to her identity in the hands of a criminal. Second, she got a temporary license and shared her story with the department of licensing. Third, she plants to go to www.annualcreditreport.com and check her credit within the next two weeks. Doing so will help determine if someone has attempted to open any accounts in her name. Finally, Melodi’s going to consider whether or not putting a credit freeze on her credit report is a good idea in the short term.
Because Melodi reacted so quickly, it’s likely she’ll stop an identity thief in his or her tracks if they try to use her personal information. Knowing how to respond to a crime is just as important as how to prevent it. If you want to learn more about protecting yourself from identity theft, how to manage credit, or how to maximize your savings, invite Credit University to your Western WA high school.