College Students At Greater Risk For Identity Theft
Consumer Advocates: Students Need Paper Shredder To Protect ID
Updated: 1:26 pm CDT August 18, 2008
MADISON, Wis. -- Getting students ready for college might also include buying them a paper shredder, said some consumer advocates.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportCollege students and people ages 18 to 29 are at a high risk for identity theft, making up almost 30 percent of all identify theft complaints, they said."Young people make up the greatest age category for ID theft," said Consumer Protection's Glen Loyd.Mitch Dreyer said he avoided a "phishing scam" by taking one extra step when he received an unofficial e-mail that seemed very official looking from a service he subscribes to."The e-mail told me to enter in my credit card information and I double checked the security settings on the site, and it turned out that it was not a secure site," said Dreyer.Credit card offers targeted at college students come fast and furious, WISC-TV reported.The Department of Trade and Consumer Protection urges caution because ID thieves are waiting to strike."I get excited, because I actually get mail, and so I open it and I'm like, 'Oh, it's a credit card, don't need it. I just throw it away.' I don't shred it," said student Carolyn Snyder.Neither Dreyer nor Snyder owns a paper shredder."My mom said that I should," said Dreyer. "But I don't have a shredder.""All somebody has to do is grab one of those envelopes before you even get it, fill it out and get a credit card in your name," said Loyd.Officials are asking that college students, who often shop online, to be extra careful and double-check security settings before clicking on the button to buy."It's a lot safer to use a credit card, than to use a debit card," said Loyd. "When someone rips off information about your debit card, they can wipe out your entire bank account."Loyd said another reason identity theft is so high among college-age young adults is that so many people are living in dorms and apartments. Those are locations with many people going in and out. In those places, mail and computers are easily accessible to visitors that might not be so friendly, like a roommate's friend.Students can protect themselves by checking their credit score for free and opting out of pre-approved credit card offers.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportCollege students and people ages 18 to 29 are at a high risk for identity theft, making up almost 30 percent of all identify theft complaints, they said."Young people make up the greatest age category for ID theft," said Consumer Protection's Glen Loyd.Mitch Dreyer said he avoided a "phishing scam" by taking one extra step when he received an unofficial e-mail that seemed very official looking from a service he subscribes to."The e-mail told me to enter in my credit card information and I double checked the security settings on the site, and it turned out that it was not a secure site," said Dreyer.Credit card offers targeted at college students come fast and furious, WISC-TV reported.The Department of Trade and Consumer Protection urges caution because ID thieves are waiting to strike."I get excited, because I actually get mail, and so I open it and I'm like, 'Oh, it's a credit card, don't need it. I just throw it away.' I don't shred it," said student Carolyn Snyder.Neither Dreyer nor Snyder owns a paper shredder."My mom said that I should," said Dreyer. "But I don't have a shredder.""All somebody has to do is grab one of those envelopes before you even get it, fill it out and get a credit card in your name," said Loyd.Officials are asking that college students, who often shop online, to be extra careful and double-check security settings before clicking on the button to buy."It's a lot safer to use a credit card, than to use a debit card," said Loyd. "When someone rips off information about your debit card, they can wipe out your entire bank account."Loyd said another reason identity theft is so high among college-age young adults is that so many people are living in dorms and apartments. Those are locations with many people going in and out. In those places, mail and computers are easily accessible to visitors that might not be so friendly, like a roommate's friend.Students can protect themselves by checking their credit score for free and opting out of pre-approved credit card offers.Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
