At Delta, safety is our priority. Safeguarding your personal and financial information is a very important piece in keeping our students secure. To ensure your safety we have outlined some considerations below to keep in mind as you start to explore this topic. We’ve also provided some helpful links to online resources to learn more about this subject and what you need to do in the event that your information has been compromised.

How to protect yourself from identity theft

• Do not answer phone calls, texts, social media messages or emails from numbers or people you do not know.
• Do not share personal information like your bank account number, social security number or date of birth. When in doubt, don’t give it out!
• Collect your mail every day and place a hold on your mail when you will be on vacation or away from your home. 
• Review credit card and bank account statements. Watch for and report unauthorized or suspicious transactions.
• Understand how ATM skimming works and how to protect yourself.
• Learn when it is safe to use a public WiFi network.
• Store personal information, including your social security card, in a safe place. Do not carry it in your wallet.
• Be smart when using wifi connections. Data is not encrypted on these platforms. When using these networks, be sure you are confirming that the websites you are using are encrypted. The “https” prefix will help confirm this. The “s” stands for secure. 

LEARN OTHER WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF

How do I know if my identity has been stolen?

If your identity has been stolen and is being used by a fraudster, it is imperative the signs are recognized, and action is taken as soon as possible to minimize damages.

• Finding unfamiliar accounts or charges on your credit report.
• A sudden drop in your credit score.
• Denial of credit.
• Declined checks.
• Certain mail no longer being delivered to your home.
• Receiving bills or credit cards for services/accounts you are unfamiliar with.
• Debt collectors contacting you for services/accounts you are unfamiliar with.
• Receiving notice that your information was compromised by a data breach at a company where you do business or have an account.
• Withdrawals from your bank account that you can’t explain.
• Receiving bills from medical providers for services you didn’t receive.
• Health plan rejection of a legitimate medical claim because the records show you’ve reached your benefits limit.
• A health plan denying coverage because your medical records show a condition you don’t have.
• Receiving notice from the IRS that more than one tax return was filed in your name, or that you have income from an employer you don’t work for.

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My identity has been stolen. What do I do now?

Visit identitytheft.gov for a step-by-step list of what to do if you believe your identity has been stolen. You will also find helpful information through Michigan Identity Theft Support (MITS).

 Student loan identity theft next steps

1. Contact a credit reporting bureau to place a fraud alert. This will force lenders to take extra steps to verify identity before approving new lines of credit.
2. Check for errors on your accounts once you receive a credit report.
3. Contact the school with which the loan originated. They should be made aware of what has happened.
4. Submit a complaint with Federal Student Aid Complaint Center
5. Contact the Department of Education Office of Inspector General.
6. Report suspected fraud to the Federal Trade Commission.