Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority
June Money Tip for Students

Identity theft can affect anyone — including students. In fact, students under age 18 are often targeted because they often have no reason to check their credit scores to see if someone has been using their Social Security number (SSN). There are several measures you can take to help protect yourself and your identity, according to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA).

Never provide personal information such as your SSN, bank account or credit card numbers in response to a phone call, fax, letter or email. Shred any documents that contain personal or financial information. Don’t respond to emails that claim to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS doesn’t contact taxpayers by email.

Friends, family members, roommates and contract workers in homes make up a large percentage of identity thieves because they have easier access to your confidential information. Make sure you don’t leave personal information where they can see it.

Pick up your mail as soon as possible after delivery or use a locked mailbox. Put outgoing mail in a blue Postal Service mailbox, hand it to a mail carrier or take it to the post office.

Never provide bank, credit card or other sensitive data when visiting a website that doesn’t explain how your personal information will be protected, including the use of encryption to safely transmit and store data. A site with “https” instead of just “http” at the beginning of the address is a secure site.

If you’re using an ATM card or debit card, ensure no one standing nearby can see your personal identification number (PIN).

On your personal computer, install a free or low-cost firewall to stop intruders from gaining remote access to your PC. Download and frequently update security patches offered by your operating system and software vendors to correct weaknesses that a hacker could exploit.

KHEAA is the state agency that administers Kentucky’s grant and scholarship programs, including the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES).

To learn how to plan and prepare for higher education, go to www.gotocollege.ky.gov. For more information about Kentucky scholarships and grants, visit www.kheaa.com; write KHEAA, P.O. Box 798, Frankfort, KY 40602-0798; or call 800-928-8926, ext. 6-7372.

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