Five Ways to Prevent Identity Theft on Campus

Everyone is interested in ways to prevent identity theft. Adults who've spent several years establishing a good credit history are usually up-to-date on the latest tactics, and know how to protect themselves. Since consumers have gotten smarter, is has become increasingly difficult for a thief to acquire their personal information. For this reason, many thieves have chosen new victims, and have started targeting young adults - primarily college students.

Identity theft on college campuses is common, but rarely spoken about. In some instances, thieves are fellow students who reside in the same dormitory or apartment building. If you are leaving for college soon, or have a child that attends college away from you, consider the top five ways to prevent identity theft on campus.

1. Use a Post Office Box: Several college students use on-campus mailboxes to receive and send mail. Since these boxes are easily accessible by other students, you might consider a P.O. Box. These mail boxes are safe, and your mail won't fall into the wrong hands.

2. Look Your Doors: Since college students live in close quarters, it's easy to develop a certain trust, wherein you might leave your room door unlocked for a few minutes. Regardless of whether you are running out to your car for a few seconds or the corner store, keep your room doors closed and locked. It only takes a few minutes for someone to enter your dorm room and swipe important information.

3. Use Computer Passwords: Your computer contains a host of valuable information. Savvy computer techs can locate information such as bank account numbers, credit card numbers, SSN, etc. Upon leaving your room, turn off your computer and use a unique password.

4. Don't Use SSN for Student ID: Many colleges and universities assign a Social Security Number as the student identification number. If this happens, contact the school administration and request a unique number. Since student ID numbers are printed on documents, class schedules, and identification cards, it's very easy for someone to memorize the number and steal your identity.

5. Report Missing Financial Statements: If a bank or credit card statement is missing, or doesn't arrive in the mail, contact your financial institution. If unusual spending occurs, request notification, and carefully check future statements for unknown charges. To be on the safe side, you might cancel the old number and ask the bank or credit card company for a new number.