Dear Action Line: In mid-August our kids will go off to college, leave their dorm rooms unlocked and have their laptops stolen. They'll fill out paper credit card applications and have their identities stolen, as well. Please warn them and their parents. - C.M., Tulsa.
"College students are at high risk for identity theft, and young adults make up the largest percent of identity theft victims in the U.S.," says the Federal Trade Commission website. Experian's ProtectMyID has some invaluable tips for college students this fall.
Locking doors: Though you might never have been security conscious at home or ever responsible for locking the front door on your way in, college is a place where everything of any value should be kept under lock and key: you and your stuff.
Always keep your dorm room, house or apartment door locked, even when you're home. Most identity theft still occurs the old fashioned, way: a wallet being stolen from a drawer or a purse taken from an unlocked room. Always be conscious of your house or room keys (where they are): they get locked in the house or the room, they get lost at bars or at pools, they disappear from purses at libraries, etc. They are also the keys to your life and expensive possessions.
Buying online: When making online purchases, do business only with websites that have the security lock symbol. The symbol indicates the website has taken measures to protect customers' information.
Credit cards: Never complete credit card applications at tables or booths on campus. Instead, go through the credit card company's secure website or contact your bank for a student credit card before you go to off to school.
The University of Oklahoma's Police Department's online "The Police Notebook" article, "Identity Theft: Has some clown taken over your good name?" (
tulsaworld.com/OUPDidentitytheft) tells the whole ugly truth.
Identity theft is the nation's fastest growing crime, say FBI statistics, and identity theft/fraud is the fastest-growing category of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaints. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.
The FTC estimates 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year, and you or someone you know may have experienced some form of identity theft. Identity thieves may rent apartments, obtain credit cards or establish telephone accounts in your name. You may not find out about the theft until you review your credit report or a credit card statement and notice charges you didn't make - or until you're contacted by a debt collector.
Submit Action Line questions by calling 918-699-8888, emailing
phil.mulkins@tulsaworld.com or by mailing them to Tulsa World Action Line, P.O. Box 1770, Tulsa OK 74102-1770.
Original Print Headline: College students face big ID theft risks
Consumer Awareness
Edmunds.com last week released its annual list of Best Used Cars for 2013, a list of 17 cars across every segment based on "the most important criteria: reliability, safety, value and availability."
Dear Action Line: I received a mailing from the IRS and wonder if this is typical. I thought all such notices came by email. Should I call the Tulsa IRS on this? - B.N., Tulsa
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