Risk of identity theft by age

Eighteen to twenty-nine year-olds are particularly at risk because they are less likely to check their credit and are more likely to apply for credit cards without reading the fine print or considering the source.

The prevailing attitude among teens and college students is that if they don’t have money in their bank account, there’s nothing to steal. Unfortunately, what matters isn't just how much you have in your bank account; it's how far in debt the thief can place you by using your information to apply for loans or purchase expensive items. In fact, a criminal is likely to leave the money in your checking account so you aren’t alerted to what’s taking place when you check your bank balance.