Losing Your Identity: College Kids are Easy Prey for Identity Thieves

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As you unpacked the last box into your kid’s new dorm room, you’re left hoping they’ll get along with their new roommate, that they’ll get wonderful professors, and that they won’t need to move back in with you. But did you have “The Talk?” No, not that one – this one:  College Student Identity Theft.

College students are easy prey for an identity thief – with a mostly blank credit history, they are distracted by their newly acquired freedom and are less protective of their privacy than the average person.

What Can You Do to Protect Your Identity?

1) Credit Card Apps? SHRED THEM!

Many students receive “junk mail” from credit card companies with ample information a skilled identity thief can track and use themselves. Encourage students to shred EVERY piece of junk mail.

2) Smart Phone Use: Watch What You Say:

Be careful of eavesdropping – especially on campus. DON’T order something and give your credit card information over the phone unless you are in complete privacy.

3) Social Security Number as Student ID

If your school still uses social security numbers, encourage your school to adopt a different practice. Try not to publicly display your Name, Address, Phone #, Bank Accounts or Social Security numbers.

4) Get a Lockbox for your documents

We ALL get busy, however, leaving your documents out on your desk is an easy hack for an identity thief. Lock your important documents away. Store credit card and bank account statements in a safe place.

5) Watch the company you keep

Although you might fully trust your new roommate, a dose of caution never hurts – A majority of college identity theft victims are robbed by people they know!

6) Use LastPass to store your passwords

NEVER leave your passwords on post-it notes or in a notebook – these are easy to lift. Use a program that can store your passwords on your mobile or laptop devices.

7) Destroy your old devices

Don’t take chances by throwing out an old laptop at the end of the semester in a curbside sale. It could be a costly mistake! Have old devices safely destroyed and recycled by a reputable NAID certified company like SecurShred for less than your Starbuck’s budget.