College-Bound Students are Vulnerable as Identity Theft Targets

Students heading to college and young adults living away from their parents’ home for the first time are particularly vulnerable to Identity Theft. In a 2010 survey, Javelin Strategy and Research found that young adults, aged 18-24, take the longest to detect identity theft – 132 days on average – when compared to other age groups.

College-bound students should take the following steps to fight identity theft:

1. School mailboxes can be easily tampered with and are not always safe. Instead of having sensitive (bank, legal, personal) documents sent to your apartment or dorm room, have them sent to a permanent address (your parents’ home or the post office) or sent requiring your signature.

2. Invest in a fire-proof lock box to store all your important documents. This can be vital when you are sharing a living space and can’t control everyone that comes and goes.  You should lock up your Social Security card, passport and bank and credit card statements. Shred any important financial documents that come in the mail and never leave any sensitive mail lying out.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Identity Theft Prevention by Identity Theft Speaker John Sileo.
Tags: back to school, College Student, credit reports, Facebook, identity theft expert, Identity Theft Prevention, John Sileo, Student, Student Identity Theft