“What does stealing, crime and jail have in common?” was projected on the projection screen of the lecture room of Coleman Hall Monday night as students took their seats.

The projector offered three options.

Identity theft, puppies and rainbows were the choices.

Everyone raised their remotes to the projector to give their final answer.

100 percent said identity theft.

On Monday night, the Health Education Resource Center sponsored the “Your Identity: Want to Share?” lecture as a part of a series on financial literacy.

The HERC is in its third week of sponsoring financial literacy programs.

Maria Luna has a friend who lost her social security number.

“I came to the Identity Theft Program to gain useful information,” said the senior communication studies major.

Barbara Cooper, the financial health education coordinator for HERC, said there is a lack of financial literacy on campus.

Cooper said she enjoys being able to assist students with financial aid. She said she mainly helps students with the “step-before process.”

“I am the one who helps you see your options before making a credit card decision,” Cooper said.

As students congregated in the lecture hall, Cooper handed out remote controls for the Turning Point technology that would be used in the presentation.

Turning Point technology allows students to participate in the poll process of the lecture.

“This tool allows you to see statistics that are relevant to the audience,” Cooper said. “You are able to see how (audience results) coincides with what other research says.”

Although Cooper used Turning Point technology during the presentation, she experienced technical difficulties half way through the lecture. She was, however, able to continue the presentation without the computer.

“You are the designator of your financial future,” she said.

Cooper said information is shared and distributed by third parties, banks, the Internet and credit card companies every five seconds.

Identity theft is when an imposter uses personal information, such as credit card numbers or social security numbers, for their personal use.

Cooper said these imposters are able to gain people’s personal information by mail, wire, phone calls, the Internet and false companies, among others.

She said students have a responsibility to protect themselves.

A statistic from the Federal Trade Commission said 32 percent of people between the ages of 18-29 report identity thefts each year.

This is the highest among any other age group.

The FTC suggests to everyone to follow three methods when it comes to identity theft: deter, detect and defend.

To deter, Cooper said students should shred and protect personal information that could leak out.

To detect, students should look at banking statements and make sure all information is correct, she said.

At the end of the presentation, Cooper gave out important phone numbers and Web sites so students could defend themselves.

Luna got out her pencil to write down the information.

“Me and my friend did not know what to do so I wrote down phone numbers and helpful information,” Luna said.

The HERC and Cooper try to help students throughout the year.

Cooper said she gives financial one-on-one consultation.

She gives students the opportunity to look at their behaviors, attitudes and knowledge about financial literacy.

“It is an education intervention and an awareness,” Cooper said.

Martha Rauch, a sophomore undecided major, said she came to the program for personal growth and plans to consult with Cooper on how to maintain a budget.

“I wish more people will come because students do not understand how much identity theft happens,” Rauch said.