Honors Program Theses

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Open Access Honors Program Thesis

First Advisor

Gerald Smith

Abstract

Americans in the 21st century are obsessed with their physical health but may not be concerned enough with their financial health. One of the greatest threats to financial health today is identity theft. While identity theft is not a new phenomenon, it is becoming a greater risk every day. The alarming rate at which identity theft is increasing necessitates a closer look. Understanding consumers' greatest risks is the first step to knowing what to do when identity theft occurs, because its effects, such as loss of money, loss of time, loss of reputation, and loss of self-confidence, can be severe. This thesis examines various urban legends found within the top three ways one's identity can be at risk or stolen, including the theft of one's social security number, the theft of one's credit card number or bank account numbers, and the theft of one's personal information over the Internet. This thesis will also explain ways identity theft can be personally harmful as well as provide information to help prevent, detect, and mitigate potential damages to one's identity. Being informed and prepared is essential in the fight against identity theft. While it may be dangerous, identity theft is still surmountable.

Year of Submission

2006

Department

Department of Accounting

University Honors Designation

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the designation University Honors

Comments

If you are the rightful copyright holder of this thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to scholarworks@uni.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL.

Date Original

5-2006

Object Description

1 PDF file (vii, 36 pages)

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