Brett, being a second-year med student and over 21 years old, is constantly rece

Question

Brett, being a second-year med student and over 21 years old, is constantly receiving credit card applications in the mail.

He recently applied for and received a Visa card with a $30,000 credit limit. So far, he has been able to get through school

without taking out any student loans, but money is getting tight. He worries about the next tuition payment and how to

afford the next school break. He has been highly stressed and feels he needs to reward himself by getting out of town.

Brett is also concerned about identity theft. This semester, there was a security breach of a student file. Although he is

unaware of any identity theft from the breach, he has a heightened concern about becoming a target of identity theft.

     1. What advice would you provide Brett for his upcoming school break?

     2. If he should head out of town, what advice would you offer to help him protect his identity?

Explanation / Answer

1. the worries/doubts/delima is about payment of tuition fee, getting out of town and concern about identity theft. His heightened concern about becoming a target of identity theft may be related to security breach of a student file though he is unawre of any identity theft from the breach. To answer the question related to Brett's best option for his upcoming school break, my sincere advice to him is to look for some part time job that too outside the town. He may venture into tourism as a tourist guide and or assistant/helper with the twin objective of earning for tuition payment (may be partly if not fully) and getting out of the town without incurring costs or at minimal costs.

2. So he should head out of town. Now the question about fear of identity theft needs to be reasoned out. At the first place, why he thinks that he may be target of identity theft. Secondly, what is at stake that he will loose because of his identity theft. Thirdly, have safe custody of Visa card and its password and keep a close watch on the transactions processings, report unauthrised use of credit card immediately to the concerned person/number. With respect to password, it is important not to disclose to anyone and memorize only, do not keep it in any form anywhere else.

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