College Credit Card Offer Is Identity Theft Scam
Don't Give Personal Information Over Phone
POSTED: Tuesday, March 29, 2005
UPDATED: 3:58 pm CST March 29,
2005
HOUSTON -- A special credit card offer for college students is actually the latest identity theft scam, Local 2 reported Tuesday.
Dennis Mulvey was suspicious from the beginning.
"I went, 'Uh oh,' when they said they were giving away free
Montgomery College credit cards. I knew the college did no such thing," he said.
He was one of at least three students at Montgomery College who were targeted for identity theft.
Mulvey received a call at home nearly three weeks ago.
The woman on the line offered him a $200 gift certificate along with the college credit card.
Mulvey knew the college did not offer credit cards, so he played along.
"Then she said, 'Can I have your mother's maiden name?' Then I gave her a false one. I gave her my cat's name," he said.
The caller was persistent, asking for bank account and Social Security numbers.
"I said, 'Not a chance.' And she hung up," Mulvey said.
He reported it to the school right away.
The next day, the college president sent out an e-mail to warn students, faculty and staff.
When the local newspaper ran an article about it, two more students came forward to say they also received the calls. One of the students actually volunteered her personal information.
No one has reported losing any money so far, and the school is doing all it can to keep it that way.
"We're looking at different things -- nothing concrete, looking at other ways to communicate with students, make sure other students are aware," said Steve Scheffler, a spokesman for Montgomery College.
For more on identity theft, visit the Federal Trade Commission at
www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
Related Stories: - March 9, 2005: Shoe Shoppers Become Identity Theft Targets
- February 14, 2005: Thieves Are Phishing Via Wireless Devices
- February 9, 2005: Stolen Identity Haunts Houston Man On Job Search
- November 19, 2004: Woman Arrested, Charged With Identity Theft
- July 30, 2004: Cell Phones Help Criminals Carry Out Crimes
- April 22, 2004: District Attorney Becomes Identity Theft Victim
- April 8, 2004: Company Warns Customers About Possible Identity Theft
- May 27, 2003: Convict Gives Inside Look At Identity Theft
- May 14, 2003: Insurance Protects Against Identity Theft
- May 13, 2003: Lawmakers To Consider Identity Theft Bills
- May 5, 2003: Identity Theft Steals More Than Money
- March 29, 2002: Thieves Use High-Tech Ways To Steal
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