Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

Phishing e-mails: Phishers impersonate an institution you know, like CSUN, and prompt you to urgently update your account or provide some form of personal information. If you believe your account has been compromised, call or visit the company. Do not use any of the contact information or links provided in the e-mail. For more information on phishing e-mails and examples, visit the Phishing Information Page.

Social Media: Phishers and hackers primarily obtain information on you from your own social media account! Set your account to private and limit the personal information you give about yourself in your posts (last name, school, location/check-ins).

Stronger Passwords: Avoid the obvious Abc123! format. Don’t rely on security questions; anyone digging deep enough can find the answer to those. Set up two-factor authentication and sign up with a free password manager like LastPass to create unique passwords that require no memorization.

Wi-Fi usage: Limit your activities while using public Wi-Fi. Try not to purchase things or access bank accounts. Public Wi-Fi hotspots are targeted by hackers since it gives them direct access to your mobile device.

Updated Software: Keep your computer's operating system and antivirus software up-to-date. For more information on virus protection, refer to our Security Software page.

Credit Report: Check your bank statements and credit report for accuracy. For information about your annual free credit report, visit the Federal Trade Commission. Make sure to shred your bank statements, old credit cards, and any other document containing sensitive information.

Solicitors: Impostors also try to take information from you over the phone. Remove your name from marketing lists by visiting the Data & Marketing Association. Or, the National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home, effective 31 days after appearing on the registry. Stop mail solicitations of pre-approved credit card applications by removing your name from credit bureau marketing lists. Don't give information to solicitor's on campus either; report suspicious activity to university police at (818) 677-2111.