As recent college graduates are now applying for internships, jobs, car loans or even credit cards – often for the first time – they are using their personal information and are suddenly much more vulnerable to identity theft. They might be asked to give some specific personal details and not know that it’s not information needed when applying.

A recent article on the Equifax Finance blog, “Graduated This Year? Your Identity May Be At Risk,” discusses the rise of identity theft among recent college graduates and a real woman that experienced this trap. The finance experts say that recent college grads are appealing targets for identity thieves because graduates have vital information worth stealing and new forms of income, yet they’re still learning how the credit protection process works.

Melissa Bingham, a recent Colorado State University grad, found how quickly her identity could be taken when she was the victim of a “spoof” call. The caller claimed to be from the Colorado Department of Education and knew her full name, what kind of degree she had and her date of graduation. Bingham was told that she was under federal investigation and could lose her recently earned degree if she didn’t give the caller some personal information, including her social security number.

Bingham isn’t alone. There has actually been a rising trend among identity thieves. “They’re a particularly attractive target because they still have all the vulnerabilities young people have, but they have something worth stealing – bank accounts and credit cards,” says Eva Velasquez, CEO and president of the non-profit Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC).

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provided these tips for graduates to better protect their personal information:

• Monitor financial accounts, like bank and credit card accounts, for fraudulent or suspicious activity.
• Have important documents mailed to a secure place. For example, recent college graduates may want to send important documents to a parent’s house or a P.O. Box.
• Keep important information locked away.
• Securely store technology and avoid unprotected WiFi and Bluetooth networks.
• Be careful when sharing on social media.
• Check credit reports from the three major credit reporting agencies (CRAs). You can receive one free copy of your credit report from each of the CRAs at AnnnualCreditReport.com.

The most important thing that recent college graduates can do to protect themselves is to protect their personal information and data, which makes up their identity, as they would do with their cell phones, jewelry and cash.