How to Prevent Identity theft on a College Campus

Every fall thousands of young adults leave home and go to college. Some get their own apartments. But the majority of college students live in the dormitory. If you plan to stay in the dorm, it’s vital to take certain precautions. Identity theft on campus has become a big problem in recent years. Fortunately, there are practical ways to protect yourself.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Post office box
• File cabinet

1. Keep your dorm room locked. It only takes a few minutes for someone to walk into your dorm room and swipe important information. This may include a bank statement, credit card or Social Security number. Once they have this information, they can open a variety of new accounts in your name.

2. Purchase a locked file cabinet. Rather than keep your personal information lying on a desk in open view, buy a small file cabinet and keep the drawers locked. This is a great place to store valuables, money and financial information.

3. Request a post office box. Some campus dormitories don’t have private mail boxes. To prevent identity theft on campus, visit your local Post Office and ask for a P.O Box. Have all your statements and private mail forwarded to this address.

4. Protect your computer with a password. Today, it’s easy to keep website login information stored on the computer. Unfortunately, if someone gets hold of your computer, they can easily access this information. Password-protect your desktop computer or laptop.

5. Change your student identification number. Often times, a student’s identification number is the same as their Social Security number. The best way to prevent identity theft on campus is to request a new, unique student ID.