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| Are College Students Putting Their Parents at Risk for Identity Theft? |
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| Susan Wassel |
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7/24/2009 - Survey uncovers student behaviors that could threaten parents' financial security
OAK BROOK, Ill., July 23 /PRNewswire/ -- College students are indifferent when it comes to their personal security. That's among the findings of a new Campus Security Survey(1) of 1,000 college students which found most co-eds routinely turn a blind eye to a variety of common-sense safety precautions.
While student apathy on security matters may not raise eyebrows, one expert uncovered new cause for alarm: students who ignore their own personal security are not only putting themselves at risk for identity theft, they are also putting their parents at risk.
"It's common practice among college students to use their parents' names, bank account numbers and other personal information to co-sign loans and leases, write tuition and housing checks, register online to receive grades and more," says college security expert Robert Siciliano, author of The Safety Minute: Living on high alert; How to take control of your personal security and prevent fraud. "So when online criminals strike, they are often manipulating parents' personal data, not students'."
The survey, conducted by uni-ball(R) pens and the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), also included 1,000 parents, 3 out of 4 (74 percent) who indicated they believe students are at moderate-to-high risk for identity theft. Fewer students -- 21 percent -- said they were concerned about having their identities stolen, and only 13 percent said check fraud was a key concern. However, according to the ITRC, 30 percent of all identity theft complaints come from 18- to 29-year-olds(2).
Students' lack of concern, combined with the fact that 40 percent said they provide their social security numbers online, may also mean parents' warnings are falling on deaf ears: 89 percent of parents said they had discussed safety measures with their students before they left for school.
Safety Snub
Identity theft is not alone on the list of student-snubbed security issues. According to the survey, only 44 percent of students are concerned with having their personal belongings stolen (laptop, mp3 player, purse, etc.), 40 percent regularly leave their apartment or dorm doors unlocked, and only 34 percent are afraid of walking home from campus at night.
On a positive note, 50 percent of students surveyed said they shred important documents and bills, and only 9 percent said they share personal online passwords with friends. However, according to the U.S. Department of Education's Office of the Inspector General, almost half of all college students receive credit card applications on a daily or weekly basis and throw them out without destroying them(3).
The Parent Trap
It's no secret that parents worry about their kids - 87 percent of parents surveyed expressed concern for their students' safety while at school. Some of what may be keeping them up at night:
Lock Up: 59 percent of students said they feel safe on campus "most of the time," yet only 60 percent admit to locking their doors, and one in 10 has allowed people into their apartment/house whom they do not know. "It only takes a minute for someone to grab a piece of junk mail off a student's desk and use it later to open a credit line," said Siciliano.
Write Offs: 57 percent of students write checks for rent payments and other purchases, yet only 11 percent use a secure gel pen, like a uni-ball pen with specially formulated Uni-Super Ink(TM) which can't be washed out, helping prevent check fraud.
Old School: Identity theft costs victims $5 billion annually(4). Only 21 percent of students are concerned about having their identity stolen, with 13 percent mentioning check fraud as a key concern. According to Rex Davis of the ITRC, check fraud is making a comeback in today's economy. "Everyone's so concerned about online identity theft, they often overlook traditional pen-and-paper risks," said Davis. "But they are significant. Using a secure pen prevents thieves from washing the ink off of a check and changing the amount or making it payable to themselves."
Take the Test: Assess Your College Student's Risk
In conjunction with September's National Campus Safety Awareness Month, uni-ball and the ITRC are inviting parents and students to take the online Student Risk Index Quiz, an interactive questionnaire at www.uniball-na.com that assesses the level of security risk for college students. The index is scored based on responses to various high-risk and prevention behaviors, from personal safety (locking doors and walking alone at night) to identity theft prevention (both online security and traditional methods). Results are calculated immediately and test-takers are provided with a score indicating their personal level of risk.
"All parents with college-bound students need to make sure their kids understand how vulnerable they are," said the ITRC's Davis, also a parent of two. "I sent my kids to college and I would be remiss if I failed to educate them about the fastest growing crime today, which could not only impact their future, but our entire family's well-being."
Safety First
Both Siciliano and the experts at the ITRC say it's not enough to send your college freshman to school with a laptop, cell phone, books, and clean clothes. A cross-cut shredder, a supply of uni-ball gel pens with specially formulated Uni-Super Ink and a lock box large enough for a laptop loaded with current computer security software are equally important.
Other specific ways to protect students include reconciling bank statements monthly to identify fraudulent activity (nearly one-third of students rarely, if ever, reconcile their credit card and checking account statement, according to the U.S. Department of Education)(5), never sharing online passwords with anyone, and taking precautions when posting personal information on social media Web sites.
Pen Your Way to Safety
Many uni-ball pens, including the uni-ball 207 gel pen, the Jetstream, Jetstream RT and Vision Elite roller ball pens, use specially formulated inks that contain tiny color pigments. This exclusive "Super Ink(TM)" helps prevent document and check fraud by absorbing into the paper fibers. When an individual tries to wash or lift the inked information written on the document, the ink remains trapped within the fibers of the paper and can't be washed out.
"As damaging as these crimes can be, they are often easily prevented," said Ryan Rouse, senior brand manager for uni-ball. "By using a uni-ball pen with specially formulated Uni-Super Ink, you could prevent the hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars often spent to restore a stolen identity. It's a simple fix, and for as little as $2 these pens should be on every college students' supply list."
For more information on college security and to take the Student Risk Index Quiz, visit uniball-na.com. You can also find uni-ball on Twitter at @UniBall_USA, on the uni-ball Facebook(R) page, and the uni-ball YouTube channel.
About uni-ball(R)
uni-ball(R) is a world leader in providing an optimal writing experience, offering writing instruments with superior functionality and affordability. From the JetStream(R) pen's smooth write to the intense color and superior performance of the uni-ball 207 gel pen, the brand allows one to enjoy the ultimate in writing performance coupled with a distinctive, contemporary style. Newell Rubbermaid Office Products, marketer and distributor of uni-ball(R) pens in North America, is a worldwide leader in the manufacturing and marketing of writing instruments, art products and office organization and technology products, including such well known brands as Paper Mate(R), Sharpie(R), DYMO(R) Parker(R), Waterman(R), EXPO(R), uni-ball(R), and Rolodex(R), among others. Visit www.uniball-na.com for more information.
About the ITRC
The San Diego-based Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) is a non-profit (501(c) 3) organization established in December 1999, to support victims of identity theft in resolving their cases, and to broaden public education and awareness in the understanding of identity theft. It is the on-going mission of the ITRC to assist victims, educate consumers, research identity theft and increase public and corporate awareness about this problem.
(1)The survey was conducted online with a random sample of 1,055 men and women aged 18 to 54 who are parents of children that are attending college and 1,006 men and women aged 18 to 25 who are attending college -- all members of the Impulse Research proprietary online panel. The Impulse Research proprietary online panel has been carefully selected to closely match US population demographics and the respondents are representative of American men and women 18 to 54 who are parents of children that are attending college. Research was conducted in June 2009. The overall sampling error rate for this survey is +/-3% at the 95% level of confidence
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