Identity theft a threat to students

During the past school year, chances are that nearly every University student wrote a check, charged tickets to a Red Sox game or movie, applied for a credit card, threw a bank statement into the trash, or misplaced their Tufts ID card.

Students may think that the damage caused by any of these actions is limited to a self-indulgent dip into the typically meager college-student budget. In truth, however, the damage can be far greater: elevating students' risk of being targeted for identity theft, a crime which has a much more devastating effect than a few Moviefone tickets on a tight budget.

Identity theft is a term used to refer to all types of crime in which someone obtains and uses another person's personal information (whether it be their Social Security number, credit card number, or other identifying data) without that person's knowledge, most often for economic gain.

The prevalence of this crime in the United States has been steadily increasing for quite some time: Bankrate.com reports that there are almost 900,000 new victims each year. Many of those targeted have been college students, who are especially prone to identity theft for a number of reasons.

One reason is that Social Security numbers (SSNs) are used as universal identifiers at most colleges, including Tufts. At schools nationwide, SSNs are used in situations from purchasing items at the bookstore to replacing names on a list of test grades. Such blas?© use of SSNs, however, can have devastating results, as was the case of college student Jenni D. (who did not wish to use her last name), whose identity theft received national coverage.

In late 2002, someone stole Jenni D.'s SSN from her student ID card. Using the SSN, the thief opened up 13 credit card accounts, seven checking accounts, nine cell phone accounts, and bought a brand new Chevrolet Suburban, totaling $72,000.

This case brought a new awareness of campus identity theft to those at colleges and universities. Since Jenni D.'s story received national attention, most colleges, businesses, and governments have responded in various ways.

Perhaps the biggest change adopted by Tufts in order to combat the rise in identity theft is a change in the way student ID numbers are issued. Prior to the fall 2002 semester, all students' ID numbers were the same as their SSN, if they had one. SSNs were included on student ID cards, along with athe student's name, date of birth, and picture/

Because openly displaying students' SSNs increased the chances of identity theft - SSNs are the most popular keys to unlocking someone's financial assets - incoming freshmen in fall 2002 received radnomly-generated, nine-digit student ID numbers distinct from their SSN.

Only this year's incoming freshmen were automatically assigned randomly-generated ID numbers, but the Department of Public Safety offers to change other students' ID numbers and issue them with a new ID card for free.

Although actual data on the number of students who have changed their ID cards was not available, the Department did say that some students, perhaps fearing identity theft, changed their ID numbers.

Many students, however, see no reason to change their ID numbers; they are not worried about identity theft, as it is a crime that as, until recently, received very little publicity.When asked if he would switch to the newer system and switch his ID's Social Security number to a randomly assigned number, sophomore Joe Schipani responded negatively. "Probably not, seeing as the only thing that concerns me, and has never actually happened to any of my friends, is the use of my ID number to buy food on MOPS," he said.

When asked if he shared some students' concerns of losing their IDs and thus having their Social Security number floating around Boston, Schipani also responded negatively: "That's like saying, aren't you afraid of carrying your bank card around?"

While students shouldn't be afraid to do so, they should be aware. In addition to being conscious of the consequences of losing their ID or bank card, students should be conscious that providing personal information on the internet can also lead to identity theft.

The Internet is a virtual godsend for identity thieves, providing them with a wealth of opportunities to intercept financial information. Personal information is sent via the Internet everyday, and may not always be sent to the place where the user trusts it is going.

When asked how they stay safe online and what precautions they take, the majority of Tufts students said that they didn't think twice about identity theft. Freshman Elizabeth Maynard said that she, like most others, trusts that common sense will keep her safe: "Sites will tell you not to use names or birthdays or things like that for passwords, so they are not easy to figure out," Maynard said.

When transferring information on the Internet, however, common knowledge is not always enough. Lucy Lazarony at Bankrate.com warns, "Watch your step when applying for credit cards on the Web. There are plenty of phony card sites to avoid. Check to see if the Web site is connected to a legitimate credit card company before applying."

What are some other commonly suggested tips for preventing identity theft? If you are shopping with an online merchant, look for the Trust-e symbol or a Better Business Bureau online seal located somewhere on the page. These symbols indicate that the seller is trustworthy and has been independently audited.

Additionally, Dani Arthur from Bankrate.com warns students to be careful of "shoulder-surfers" - people who stand close by as individuals punch in their PIN numbers at an ATM. Fill out all credit card and loan applications clearly and exactly the same way every time: that way every bill that arrives at your house should be addressed the same. To those students living off-campus, never leave paid bills in your mailbox - always drop them off at the post office instead.

All of these tips are connected by the crucial underlying idea that students should keep tabs on all financial documents and numbers.

"Earlier this year, I found someone's Fleet bank card on Talbot Ave," one anonymous freshman said. "I turned it in to the University police. Just seeing it lying there made me more careful about my own bank card, though - what if that was my card lying there and someone dishonest picked it up?"

Finding something so valuable can clearly motivate students to more actively combat identity theft, but doing so shouldn't take such a wakeup call: in the name of safety, students should pay close attention to their personal information - before somebody else does.