College students are prime targets for ID theft

College students are prime targets for ID theft

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Story Published: Sep 4, 2007 at 6:59 AM PDT

Story Updated: Sep 4, 2007 at 1:49 PM PDT

By Herb Weisbaum

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Identity theft is a serious problem -- one that is not limited to grown-ups. College students can also become victims.

In fact, Audri Lanford of ScamBusters.org says college students are prime targets. "They're likely to have a clean credit record, if they have one at all," she says. That's very appealing to an ID thief.

College students are often "very casual with sensitive personal and financial information," Lanford says. That makes them an easy mark if a roommate or other student is less than honest.

Here are some tips from Scambusters.org to pass along to your college age kids:

  • Never leave your wallet in site or where it can be easily found.

  • Keep credit card slips and back account statements in a safe place. You might want to consider getting your son or daughter a lockbox.

  • Most college kids these days have computers in their rooms. They need to create a log-in password that they don't share with anyone, not even their roommate.


For More Information:

The College Student's Guide to Identity Theft

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