College students, fighting identity theft

Tips from the Better Business Bureau

For college freshmen leaving home for the first time, August can be a frenzied time of shopping for dorm room essentials, packing up clothes and saying goodbye to high school friends.

Parents need to make time to talk to their students about money and protecting themselves against identity theft before they head off to school. Students can be especially vulnerable because most do not have much experience handling their own money or living on their own.

Thieves see young students as desirable victims because they usually have clean credit records - and they also may not know how to detect scams. Some students may leave sensitive papers in plain sight or they may forget to lock their dorm room doors. Theft by someone they know - even a roommate - is often more of a problem than hackers committing a data breach.

About 6 percent of identity theft reported to the Federal Trade Commission last year involved people 19 or under - a total of 15,226 complaints. The number jumped to 19 percent for those age 20-29, for a total of 48,697 complaints.

Better Business Bureau recommends college-bound students take the following steps to fight identity theft on campus:

School mailboxes are not always secure and often can be accessed easily in a dorm or apartment. To combat sticky fingers in the mailroom, have sensitive mail sent to a permanent address, such as a parent's home or a post office box.

Important documents should be stored under lock and key. This includes your 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 lend your credit or debit card to anyone, even if they are a friend. Just say no if your friend wants you to cosign for a loan or financing for items like a TV.

Make sure your computer, laptop or tablet has up-to-date antivirus and anti-spyware software. Always install any updates and patches to your computer's operating system or browser software; they often help keep your computer safe from new schemes or hacks 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 will suffer in the long run. Getting your statements online is more secure, but make sure you actually look at the statements.

When shopping on unfamiliar websites, always check the company out first with BBB. Look for a BBB Accredited Business seal along with other trust seals; click on the seals to confirm that 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 annualcreditreport.com.

For more advice on fighting fraud and managing personal finances, visit midmobbb.org or call 573-886-8965.

Sean Spence is the Mid-Missouri regional director for Better Business Bureau.