College students prove easy prey for identity thieves
Tips to
protect personal information
Send a link to a friend
[August 26, 2013]
GRINNELL, Iowa -- More than 21
million students are projected to attend American colleges and
universities this fall, according to the National Center for
Education Statistics. With many young college students living in
dorms or sharing apartments, it's easy for other people to access
their belongings. Is it any wonder that students age 18-24 face the
highest risk of identity theft in the United States?
|
Before they head back to campus, Grinnell Mutual recommends
equipping your college students with the right tools and habits to
deter identity theft. Share with your student these tips from
IDentity Theft 911, a premier provider of identity and data risk
management, resolution and education services, and a trusted partner
of Grinnell Mutual. Shred preapproved credit offers.
Dumpster-diving is an epidemic on campuses because thieves know
most students throw these offers away unopened.
Use a document
safe. Lock up important papers like student loan and
enrollment documents so they won't be left lying around where
anyone could look through them.
Reconcile bank
statements. It's an early tip-off to identity fraud, yet
only about one-third of college students balance their
checkbooks.
Protect your
computer. Even if you think you can trust your roommate, the
same might not be true of the roommate's friends or classmates.
Use strong alphanumeric passwords with combinations of special
characters and capitalization, and update security software.
Avoid using open
boxes for outgoing mail. Use secure U.S. Postal Service drop
boxes, instead.
Don't store log-in information on
cellphones. If your phone is lost, contact your provider
immediately.
[to top of second column] |
For more tips, visit
www.gmrc-idtheft.com, which contains information about the
latest scams, links to online resources and other current research
regarding identity theft.
[Text from file received from
Grinnell Mutual]
Founded in 2003, IDentity Theft 911 serves 17.5 million households
across the country and provides fraud solutions for a range of
organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the country's
largest insurance companies, corporate benefit providers, banks and
credit unions, and membership organizations. Since 2005, the company
has helped more than 600,000 businesses manage data breaches. For
more information, visit
www.idt911.com.
Grinnell Mutual
Reinsurance Co., in business since 1909, provides reinsurance
for farm mutual insurance companies and offers property and casualty
insurance products through more than 1,600 independent agents in 12
Midwestern states. Grinnell Mutual is the 123rd-largest property and
casualty insurance company in the United States and the largest
primary reinsurer of farm mutual companies in North America. |