Despite the growth of social-networking sites and increasing risks of identity theft, Penn officials say students at the University are relatively immune.
Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham spoke on campus on the issue earlier this week, but Division of Public Safety officials say nothing indicates that the problem is rampant at Penn.
But that doesn't mean it never happens, as Engineering senior Keith Lukasik learned earlier this month. Although his bank card was never stolen, he discovered a few out-of-state transactions on his banking statement.
"I don't know how it happened," he said. "I still don't know."
Lukasik filed a report with the Penn Police, who are still investigating the incident.
Three out of 11 fraud incidents reported to the Penn Police have involved students this semester, Vice President of Public Safety Maureen Rush said.
In 2005, there were 12 fraud incidents involving students.
Fraud includes a range of criminal acts, including writing bad checks and credit-card theft.
At Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., the police department recently started classifying identity theft separately within the larger category of fraud.
Police records manager Linda Jusza-Schaff said the school experienced 41 instances of fraud last year and 51 the preceding year. That number includes students and staff members who have been victimized.
Abraham said college campuses pose an ideal opportunity for identity thieves because students will often leave their bags or laptops unattended.
"You have to worry about the kid sitting next to you in class," she said.
Federal Trade Commission statistics indicate that 26 percent of victims knew their perpetrators.
Besides the old-fashioned method of stealing a person's identity -- which involves rifling through their trash -- thieves now obtain personal information by hacking into online banking accounts or going through social-networking Web sites such as MySpace.com and Facebook.com.
To make matters worse, identity theft can continue without the victim's being aware, FTC Identity Theft Program Manager Joanna Crane said.
But even contacting the police can have limited effects, Abraham said, adding that law officials often do not have the manpower or expertise to pursue an identity-theft case.
David Rubinger, a spokesman for Equifax -- one of three main agencies to which victims can report their losses -- said no amount of personal information is too little.
Any piece given "may be the one piece of information that may help put together the puzzle of someone else's identity," he said.
To minimize the risk of identity theft, the FTC recommends carefully shredding all personal mail, leaving one's Social Security card in a safe place and not replying to suspicious e-mails.
But for some, like first-year Veterinary student Ashley Goodman, identity theft is not a major concern.
"I don't think about it," she said. "I just don't have the time."
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