College students have enough to juggle when it comes to school, work and their social life, and fighting fraud often doesn’t make the list of priorities. Because college students are so susceptible to identity theft, the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) recommends that they take simple steps to protect themselves on campus.
According to the 2010 Identity Fraud Survey Report released by Javelin Strategy and Research, more than 11 million people became victims of identity theft in 2009. Young adults aged 18-24 took the longest to detect identity theft-132 days on average-when compared to other age groups. Subsequently the average cost ($1,156) was roughly five times more than amount lost by other age groups.
“Identity thieves don’t care if you’re a struggling student and don’t have a penny to your name; sometimes all they want is to exploit your clean credit record,” said Dana Badgerow, president and CEO of the BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota. “Young adults that establish good habits for monitoring and detecting fraud are laying a path that will help create a healthy financial road for the rest of their lives.”
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The BBB recommends that college-bound students take the following seven steps to fight identity theft on campus:
- School mailboxes are not always secure and can often be easily accessed in a dorm or apartment. To combat sticky fingers in the mailroom, have sensitive mail sent to a permanent address such as the parents’ home or a PO Box.
- Important documents should be stored under lock and key-such as in a filing cabinet. This includes social security card, passport and bank and credit card statements. Shred any paper documents that have sensitive financial information rather than just tossing them out. Also shred any credit card offers that come in the mail.
- Never loan your credit or debit card to anyone, even if they are a friend. Also just say no if your friend wants you to cosign for a loan or financing for items like a TV.
- Make sure your computer has up-to-date antivirus and spyware software. Always install any updates and patches to your computer’s operating system or browser software which help keep your computer safe from any new advances by identity thieves online.
- Always check your credit or debit card statements closely for any suspicious activity. The sooner you identify any potential fraud, the less you’ll suffer in the long run.
- When shopping on unfamiliar web sites, always check the company out first with the BBB online (www.bbb.org). Also look for the BBB Accredited Business seal along with other trust seals; be sure to click on those seals to confirm they are legitimate.
- Check your credit report at least once a year with all three reporting bureaus for any suspicious activity or inaccuracies. You can do this for free by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com.
For more advice on fighting fraud and managing personal finances visit us online at www.bbb.org/us/consumer-tips-finance.
The mission of the Better Business Bureau is to promote, through self-regulation, the highest standards of business ethics and conduct; and to instill public confidence in responsible businesses through programs of education and action that inform, protect and assist the general public.
Our hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact the BBB at www.bbb.org or 651-699-1111, toll-free at 1-800-646-6222.
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