With only weeks left in the summer vacation, and another year of school set to begin in the fall, a recent survey finds that college students may be putting their parents at risk when it comes to identity theft.
The Campus Security Survey of 1,000 college students and an equal number of parents – conducted by uni-ball pens and the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) – revealed that less than a quarter (21 percent) of students interviewed were concerned about identity theft, while nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of parents believed students were at moderate-to-high risk for identity theft.
According to college security expert Robert Siciliano, students who ignore their own personal security are not only putting themselves at risk for identity theft, but also their parents as well. It is a 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, and register online to receive grades. When identity theft occurs, the parents’ personal data – not students’ – is compromised.
While nearly all (89 percent) parents said they had discussed safety measures with their students before they left for school, some warnings have fallen on deaf ears. The students’ lack of concern over identity theft is evident from the finding that 40 percent said they provided their social security numbers online.
According to the ITRC, 30 percent of all identity theft complaints come from 18- to 29-year-olds.
MyBackgroundCheck.com offers consumers "personal" background checks of themselves to keep their personally identifiable information (PII) secure and accurate. To learn how personal background checks help stop identity theft, visit www.mybackgroundcheck.com, email info@mybackgroundcheck.com, or call 1-800-503-2364. To follow MyBackgroundCheck.com on Twitter, visit www.twitter.com/MyBackgroundChk.
tahearn@mybackgroundcheck.com