Identity theft can affect anyone at anytime.

NIU offers software security for computers to prevent such events. Student computer labs are secured and students are asked to log in through the Clean Access Agent for security purposes. Virus protection software is installed on the computers.

“Students shouldn’t share passwords,” said Jim Fatz, the director of Information Technology Services (ITS). “This policy is something that we enforce.”

Theft can occur through the sharing of a password for a computer login, which is a violation of NIU policy.

Furthermore, theft occurs through viruses on the computer.

Scams occur over the phone and through e-mail. The violators provide real information, such as information on a bank account, to the user’s e-mail. This is called phishing.

“This [phishing] occurs when people organize crime,” Fatz said. “They pick a bank such as the Chase Manhattan Bank, which is a worldwide bank that offers hundreds of people credit cards and accounts. The e-mail looks real. The e-mail says we are going over records and we need your password and account. The people then respond to the e-mail, then it goes back to the crime organization. This is a way to do identity theft.”

Phone calls may also be made from the violator to the victim.

A person receives a phone call and is asked to clarify some information. For example, someone might say they are from NIU and are asking to clarify records and passwords over the phone, Fatz said.

The ITS helpdesk is on campus to secure students’ identity. The residence hall computers have a system that does not allow students to log in unless the updates are current.