Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation

5-2006

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

M.S.

Department (Legacy)

Department of Justice Administration

Committee Chair

Hughes, Thomas

Subject

Identity theft; College students--Crimes against; Victims of crimes--Psychology

Abstract

This thesis examines the link between routine activity theory and identity theft victimization using college students. Using data collected from 308 undergraduate students attending a southeastern university, this study seeks to present the likelihood that college students will become a victim to identity theft in the future. In doing so, the study also seeks to present the college student's perception that they could become a victim of identity theft in the future. Overall, this study has the main objective of determining if a link exists between college student's routine activities and the risk of them becoming victims of identity theft. The results specifically showed that how college students guard their credit card information (i.e., receipts) directly affects their likelihood of identity theft victimization. Additionally, support was found for two elements of routine activity theory, suggesting routine activity theory is important to the study of the identity theft victimization. Policy implications for these findings are discussed.

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