In keeping with the recent announcement by the U.S. Department of Education urging college students to defend against identity theft, Credit.Com is offering eligible applicants an identity theft defense package free in conjunction with a student credit card. The one-year CyberScout defense package includes identity theft and Internet fraud insurance as well as crisis resolution services for identity theft victims.
"Too many college students fail to understand just how serious and long-lasting the damage from identity theft can be," said Credit.Com CEO Adam Levin, a former director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. "For students who qualify for this credit card, this defense package provides crucial tools to help them defend against identity thieves before it's too late."
Nearly 10 million Americans became victims of identity theft last year, according to the Federal Trade Commission — a 41 percent increase over the year before — making identity theft the fastest growing crime in the U.S.(1) "Dormitory burglaries, unsolicited credit card offers, financial inexperience, susceptibility to scams, and insecure grade-posting practices put college students at especially high risk," added Levin.
The CyberScout defense package includes:
- Identity theft insurance from AIG Affinity Group Services that provides expert assistance and financial relief for identity restoration costs, legal defense expenses, and lost wages (2)
- An educational package incorporating fraud alerts, in-depth articles, an online knowledge base, and the CyberScout Newsletter
- One-on-one crisis resolution for victims of identity theft
"Victims of identity theft can spend months — and, in some cases, years — cleaning up the damage to their finances and their reputations," said CyberScout COO Sheryl Cox Christenson. "The last thing college students need is to have their credit ruined before their adult lives have even begun. We and our partners at AIG Affinity Group Services are pleased to be helping students to defend against this crime."
(1) Data: Federal Trade Commission
(2) Insurance underwritten by member companies of American International Group, Inc. The description herein is a summary only. It does not include all terms, conditions, and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the actual policies for complete details of coverage and exclusions. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions.
