By Tejal Patel
Released by Javelin Strategy and Research on Feb. 1, young adults are at the greatest risk for identity fraud, according to the 2007 Identity Fraud Survey Report. In addition, ID Analytics, Inc., the Identity Risk Management company, announced the results of analytical research on U.S. identity fraud by geography, which has New York listed as the number one state for identity fraud.
According to the Javelin study, adult victims between the ages of 18 and 24 are least likely to take easy, but important steps in protecting their information such as shredding documents and using antivirus software and firewalls. Mike Finklestein, a sophomore video/television major, may be this exception.
“I don’t use ATMs that aren’t from my bank and I only check my bank account and credit card statements from my specific laptop,” he said.
More than five percent of those surveyed fell victim to identity theft. The study also showed that young adults between 18 and 24 reported a greater incident rate of 5.3 percent. More than half of the victims reported knowing their perpetrators, which could include friends, family, neighbors and employees.
“Most students are well informed about the basic rules for protecting their physical well being and possessions-rules like walking in well-lit areas, traveling in groups and locking their doors and windows,” said Rod Paige, former U.S. Secretary of Education, in a recent press release. “But too many students don’t know the basics of protecting their identity.”
To protect students here, the University’s student computing services offers software such as McAfee VirusScan and various spyware removal programs. The computer center Web site also presents students with some tips on keeping sensitive information secure.
The Web site advises students to lock their workstation when they are not using it, never share their passwords and safeguard any portable media they use. However, not all students are cautious with their personal information.
“College students aren’t as careful with their things as they should be, but I’m not sure how their identity could be better protected other than they just shouldn’t give out all their information and passwords to everyone,” said Hadas Bole, a freshman education and English major, who lost her student ID card in New York City.
To further protect students, there is a federal law called The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), which defines the information that the University has to protect.
The law states that “no one outside the institution shall have access to students’ education records, nor will the institution disclose any information from those records without the written consent of the students.” FERPA does not even allow parents to see their son/daughter’s education records without a signed consent form.
Universities across the country continuously collect a great amount of student information. According to an article in EDUCA– USE Review magazine, colleges and universities possess an enormous volume and variety of information about students, employees, applicants, alumni and their families such as data about vehicles that access and park on campus, financial information about students and their parents, health information collected by health centers and athletic programs, and data about the locations of students depending on where they swipe their cards.
“They track where we are; it’s an invasion of privacy,” said Tim Gann, a sophomore film major.
Some institutions, such as the University of Illinois used to use social security numbers to post grades for students. However, that rule has been changed and other colleges such as Temple University, the University of Connecticut and Purdue University have social security number usage policies to keep their students identities safe.
“Nobody should be able to identify you by your social security number,” Gann added.
Once someone has your ATM card and pin, they can clean you out.