Clean slates: College students may be prime targets of identity theft

Life on campus can be full of firsts -- a student living away from mom and dad for the first time; handling one's own money and credit cards; making solo decisions about medical treatment, services and other purchases.

These factors and others can make university students, perhaps for the first time, vulnerable to identity theft.

"We're all targets of identity theft, but college students can be prime targets because of their clean credit history," says Joey Keys, regional director of the Better Business Bureau in Cape Girardeau. "If someone has bad credit, the person who steals the identity won't be able to open accounts."

Keys references a study by Javelin Strategy and Research, which reports that identity theft involving those ages 18 to 24 required the longest amount of time to detect -- an average of 132 days -- when compared to other age groups.

The average cost of the losses to the age group, $1,156, was about five times greater than losses to other age groups. He also says about 6 percent of identity theft reported to the Federal Trade Commission last year involved people 19 and younger, with a total of 12,062 complaints.

Some university websites include warning signs that one may be the victim of identity theft, and also list steps to take if victimized.

Most of those same suggestions are available on the sites of the Federal Trade Commission -- identitytheft.gov -- and the Missouri attorney general's office -- ago.mo.gov/divisions/consumer/identity-theft-data-security.

The website of Southeast Missouri State University, for instance, offers recommendations on how students can best secure their personal information and guard against identify theft.

A student's Southeast password is used for many aspects of university life, including logging on to public computers on the campus and accessing the university's portal, which contains a student's financial information, controls class registration and offers access to the Southeast email service.

US Bank, which has a banking center in the Southeast University Center on campus, says on its website that identify theft is the fastest-growing crime in the United States and can happen to anyone, regardless of whether or not you use the Internet. It says your mailbox and garbage are the easiest ways for criminals to access personal information.

Joey Keys with the Better Business Bureau poses for a photo Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. (Glenn Landberg)

It offers a toll-free number to its customers, (877) 595-6256, to reach the US Bank Fraud Liaison Center.

"If someone does detect a problem with identity theft, they can come to us," Keys says from the BBB office at 3065 William St. "We'll help them resolve it, and get them to the right agency to help. There may be more than one agency they need to contact."

The Better Business Bureau has these recommendations for university students:

* Have sensitive mail sent to a secure mailbox, such as that of a parent or a post office box. Campus mailboxes may not provide the necessary security.

* Store important papers -- Social Security card, passport and bank and credit-card statements -- under lock and key.

Cutline:Joey Keys with the Better Business Bureau poses for a photo in Cape Girardeau. (Glenn Landberg)

* Shred documents that may carry personal financial data; also shred credit card offers that may contain personal information.

* Never lend a debit card or credit card to anyone, not even a friend.

* Keep your computer up to date with anti-virus protection.

* Check credit- or debit-card statements promptly for suspicious activity.

* Check your credit report at least once a year; it can be done for free at annualcreditreport.com.

* Create passwords that would be difficult to copy or remember at a glance.

Among the signs an identity may be stolen:

* Unexplained withdrawals from your bank account.

* Bills and other mail stop showing up.

* Retailers won't accept your checks.

* Debt collectors begin to call, but the debts aren't yours.

* Unfamiliar accounts or charges on your credit report.

* Medical providers bill you for services you didn't use.

* Your health care insurer rejects your legitimate claim because records show you've reached your benefits limit.

* You can't acquire health care coverage because medical records indicate a condition you don't have.

* The IRS notifies you that more than one tax return was filed in your name, or that you have income from an employer you don't work for.

* You receive notice that your information was compromised by a data breach at a company where you do business or have an account.

* A lender tries to repossess a car you don't own.

* Police contact you about a crime committed in your name.

Keys says prompt detection of identity theft is vital to swift resolution, and the time involved can vary.

"It can take quite some time. It depends on the sort of identity theft you've been victim to. The earlier you spot it, the more quickly you can resolve it," Keys says.