Crime Scene Investigation: Has Someone Stolen Your Identify?
[Modified from the Bergen Record financial literacy curriculum]

Grade 11-12
Consumer and Personal Finance

Name: Dr. Barbara O'Neill, CFP
Agency: Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Name: Dr. Celia Hayhoe, CFP
Agency: Virginia Cooperative Extension
Lesson Plan: Phyllis Garnant, NJDOE

Students will be able to:

1. Define briefly, identity theft.
2. Explain why identify theft is a problem.
3. List ways of preventing theft of personal information.
4. Recommend ways to check on the theft of your personal information and list procedures to follow if you are a victim.

**Goal/Overview/Purpose/Summary**

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, social security number, credit card number or other identifying information, without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.

Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have been stolen can spend months or years - and their hard-earned money - cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their good name and credit record. In the meantime, victims may lose job opportunities, are refused loans, education, housing or cars, or even get arrested for crimes they didn't commit.

**Activity**

Complete the following activity:

1. Read pages 12-13 of Money…What Young Adults Need to Know. (http://www.nj.gov/njded/aps/cccs/career/resources.htm) Complete the learning extensions and crossword puzzle.

Web sites that may contain articles include:

• National Consumer League's Web site, http://www.nclnet.org/privacy/index.htm
• Federal Trade Commission, http://www.ftc.gov
• Theft Resource Center, http://www.idtheftcenter.org
• National Association of Attorneys General, http://www.naag.org
• National Consumers League, http://www.nclnet.org
• National Crime Prevention Council, http://www.ncpc.org
• National Fraud Information Center, http://www.fraud.org
• Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, http://www.privacyrights.org
• United States Postal Service (what to do if you become a victim of mail fraud), http://www.usps.gov

2. Lately, Jane and Tommy have been hearing a lot in the news about identity theft. They ask their parents how they can protect their personal information.

• What are ways that Jane and Tommy can protect their personal information?
• If Jane or Tommy discover that someone has stolen their gas card, who should they contact to report the card is stolen?
• Are there other steps they should take once they report their card has been stolen? Are they responsible for the charges made by the credit card thief?

** Assessment **
(Must "match" objectives! Include rubric if possible).

Write a column for a school or community newspaper on "Tips for Consumer to Avoid Identity Theft." Use a rubric adopted by the school to evaluate the writing skills.

Alternative assessment might be the development of a poster campaign for display in the community, a brochure, or a TV spot.

Create an action plan of what you will need to do, and who you will need to contact if someone steals your wallet and your identity.

** Additional Info **

Additional information and resources can be found at http://www.ext.vt.edu/niemoney/identitytheft.html.