Students More At Risk For ID Theft
It appears college students, and even their professors, could use a course in identify theft in addition to regular classes.
A study conducted by Chubb Group of Insurance Companies revealed that college students may be prime targets for such theft because of common student practices and lack of knowledge about the crime.
A large number of students receive credit card solicitations - about 49 percent said they receive such promotions daily or weekly, and 86 percent said they receive them a few times a month. Yet 30 percent of respondents said they throw out credit card solicitations without destroying them.
Meanwhile, nearly 30 percent of students rarely, if ever, reconcile credit or checking account balances with backup materials. More than half (54 percent) of respondents had applied for a credit card online and 41 percent said they gave out personal information about themselves and their parents to do so.
When asked where they store personal financial information, 48 percent said in their dormitory rooms. Yet 31 percent also said a room in their dorms had been burglarized.
As for teachers, a surprising half of respondents indicated that their teachers still post Social Security numbers when posting grades despite the fact the practice is illegal
Copyright © 2003 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 13, No. 9, 12/03
Privacy Policy Disclaimer Recommend This Site ! Contact Us
BankersOnline is a free service made possible by the generous support of our advertisers and sponsors. Advertisers and sponsors are not responsible for site content. Please help us keep BankersOnline FREE to all banking professionals. Support our advertisers and sponsors by clicking through to learn more about their products and services.
|
Print Friendly!
Email This Article!
Discuss NOW!