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College students can be vulnerable to identity theft, just like everybody else. When their identity is stolen, their finances, their employment and their lives can all be compromised, disrupted and damaged. However, there are things that students can do to help prevent this kind of painful intrusion.

Six areas that need your attention:

1. Computers – Today, thieves can steal a student?s personal and financial information by using their own computers to enter someone?s world. Crooks look for passwords, PIN numbers, bank account numbers, social security numbers, credit card numbers, security codes, phone numbers, addresses and any negative information that could be used for blackmail or even revenge purposes.

Students can reduce their risks by: a) Using antivirus software and investigating antispyware options. b) Ignoring e-mail requests for their confidential and financial information, even requests from their banks, credit card companies, package delivery services, the IRS or another government agency. c) Ignoring requests for them to call an 800 number, click on a link or open an attachment from anyone, even friends, financial institutions and government agencies, etc.

Additionally, students should be very careful about what they post online, what can be seen on social networking sites and who can see that information. Surveys, quizzes and any requests for your information should always be viewed with concern and skepticism.

2. Snail Mail – Students must be careful when sending and receiving information via snail mail. They can protect their information by: a) Carefully destroying documents that contain personal and financial information. Access to a shredder can be helpful. b) Depositing outgoing mail at the post office or in a secure, locked mailbox. c) Receiving their incoming mail via a post office box or another secure, locked mailbox. d) Never leaving personal and financial information unprotected in their dorm rooms, at work, in their cars or any place where it can be observed or taken. e) Knowing when they are supposed to receive their financial, credit card, banking, tax refund checks and other confidential statements and documents.

3. Telephone – Students should never provide their personal, confidential or financial information to anyone who calls them, for any reason. Scammers pretend to be someone to whom you may release information. They may even pretend to a police officer with a warrant for your arrest for failing to show up for jury duty or some other false claim. Call, the Court and the Police Department yourself before you believe anything they say. Never use the phone number or e-mail address they give you. Look them up on your own.

It is also important for students to recognize that unscrupulous people can use their own cell phone cameras for embarrassing, illegal or unethical reasons. They use cell phone cameras to capture pictures of your activities, personal information, credit card numbers and more.

4. Finances – No student should allow their financial and personal information to be stolen. If they do, it may take two years or longer for them to get things straightened out again. Additionally, it is likely to be a costly experience. Money may be stolen from bank accounts. Unauthorized purchases may show up on their credit card statements. Credit may be damaged or difficult to obtain, when they need it for major purchases. When their information is compromised, their personal and financial reputation may be hurt for years.

Students should: a) Check their credit card statements carefully and report unauthorized purchases to their credit card company. When something is seriously wrong, they should cancel their credit cards and get new ones. b) Make copies (front and back) of everything in their wallets (credit cards, drivers license and other forms of identification). Keep them in a safety deposit box at a bank along with their social security card, their passport and other important personal documents. c) Additionally, students should make certain that they get their own credit card back after using it at any retail establishment. Unscrupulous clerks sometimes return a different and out of date, look alike card from another person.

5. Your Workplace – Confidential information must be protected. Students should never leave credit card and banking statements, blank checks, pay checks and pay stubs where others can see them or take them. Nothing should be left to chance. Wallets and purses should be protected, at all times.

6. Public Places – Public computers should be avoided. When using their own laptop away from home, students must recognize that their information can be intercepted by electronic scanners. Therefore, no confidential information should be accessed or e-mailed on a public computer.

If a student?s identity is compromised, they should immediately do nine things: 1) Obtain the copies they made of their personal and financial information from their safety deposit box. 2) Report the details to the identity theft section of the police and fill out a report. 3) Report it to their banking institutions. 4) Report it to their credit card companies and obtain new cards. 5) Report it to their employer to try to avoid incorrect garnishments. 6) Call the three credit Reporting Agencies (TransUnion – http://www.transunion.com, Equifax – http://www.equifax.com and Experian – http://www.experian.com) and place a fraud alert on their accounts. 7) Contact all creditors (in writing) to inform them of the problem and get their advice. Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles. 9) Close any accounts that were compromised or opened fraudulently.

Additionally, students should think about several other things: a) Should they seek legal advice? b) Should they contact the fraud section of the Social Security Administration? c) Should they contact the identity theft section of the Federal Trade Commission? – (www.ftc.gov/idtheft) Copies of the FTC affidavit can be sent to creditors. d) Be prepared to deal with collection agencies. e) Lastly, students must react quickly to any more indications of suspicious activity in any account.

All of this is not a lesson to be learned the hard way. Wise students take this information to heart and do everything in their power to prevent their identity from being stolen.