Study says college-age students most at risk for identity theft

Identity theft is a crime everyone must be made aware of, especially college-age students.\nA recent study conducted by analyst group Javelin Strategy and Research found that students ages 18 to 24 are most at risk to have their personal information stolen and financial status damaged.\nThe study, released Feb. 1, provides compelling information about the reduction in identity fraud across the country, in addition to identifying important risk factors that differentiate by age and income demographics. This is the third consecutive year the survey has been conducted. Javelin Strategy and Research considers itself the nation’s largest and most-up-to-date point of reference on identity theft.\nThe study defines identity theft as any access to personal account information that leads to fraud. In October 2006, the analysts conducted 5,000 telephone interviews to various consumers.\nThe study found that young adults are least likely to take easy but important safeguards such as shredding documents and using antivirus software and firewalls on their computers. More than 5 percent of those surveyed in the 18-to-24 age range reported having fallen victim to identity theft.\nThe study offers some tips on how to protect oneself from identity theft, such as carrying only credit and identification cards that are used constantly and never carrying a Social Security card. All documents containing personal information, such as checkbooks and passports, should be locked in a secure place. \nScott Wilson of the Information Technology Security and Policy Office referenced an IU Knowledge Base tip sheet for avoiding identity theft. The article says students need to be careful on social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace, which are open to anyone on the Internet.\n“The general rule of thumb with these (sites) is not to post anything that you wouldn’t want to end up on the front page of the paper, at your next job interview or on your parents’ computer screens,” Wilson said in an e-mail.\nAccording to the Knowledge Base Web site, even if you are careful with Social Security information, it’s possible that such data is available publicly without your knowledge. One way to find out if personal information is on a Web site is to contact the owners of sites on which a Social Security number is needed and have it removed, the IT Security office recommends. The IT security office goes further in saying to never enter a social security number into a search engine to try and find it. \nFor more information on how to stay protected, visit the IU legal studies Web site. If you have fallen victim to identity theft, be sure to make an appointment with Legal Services to figure out the next step to take.