08/04/2020
BBB Tip: 9 Tips for college students to avoid ID theft on campus
Better Business Bureau
As college students prepare to head back to campus in the next few weeks, and COVID-19 precautions are taking center stage, fighting fraud may not be at the top of their list of priorities. However, college students are very susceptible to identity theft; by establishing good habits for monitoring and detecting fraud, students can lay a path for healthy financial practices for the rest of their lives.
The Better Business Bureau recommends that college-bound students take the following 9 steps to fight identity theft on campus:
- Send sensitive mail to your permanent home or a post office box. School mailboxes are not always secure and often can be accessed easily in a dorm or apartment.
- Important documents should be stored away safely. This includes your U.S. Social Security card, passport, and bank and credit card statements. Shred credit card offers and any paper documents that have sensitive financial information rather than just tossing them out.
- Never lend your credit or debit card to anyone. Just say no if your friend wants to borrow your card or asks you to co-sign for a loan or financing for items like a TV. When using an ATM or credit card machine, don't let anyone 'shoulder surf' your personal identification number (PIN).
Read more...