For high school students, colleges represent the future, freedom and parties. For identity thieves, colleges represent potential targets.
“College age students are the No.1 target for identity theft,” said Tricia Pruitt, regional vice president for the North Alabama Better Business Bureau.
To help educate upcoming college students about financial responsibility and identity theft, the BBB and the Family Security Credit Union are hosting a Lunch-and-Learn event titled 10 Money Saving Tips for College Students.
“The purpose is to help young people know the signs of identity theft, how to protect themselves and their information and how to monitor their accounts,” Pruitt said.
Roommates, credit card receipts, Internet orders and unprotected student loan numbers all pose potential threats to a student’s identity.
But even if students take every precaution, they remain at risk for identity theft and need to monitor their accounts, Pruitt said.
According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, about two dozen colleges, including Columbia University, Vanderbilt University and Johns Hopkins University, reported data breaches potentially affecting more than 300,000 students, faculty and alumni during the past year.
Colleges cited lost records, stolen computers and Internet viruses for the breaches, which released names and Social Security numbers.
While Pruitt will discuss how students can protect the money they save, Robert Harris will address how students can save money, which can be as easy as stocking up on supplies at the grocery store.
‘Have a plan’
“Students need to have a plan for what they’re going to spend and how much they can spend,” said Harris, financial counselor for the Family Security Credit Union. “Rather than going to a convenience store, students can save money and buy more by buying food and drinks at the grocery store and keeping them in their rooms.”
Pruitt said the BBB will supply lunch for the session, scheduled Friday from noon to 1 p.m. at the Family Security Credit Union in Decatur, AL.
Interested individuals can register for the event by calling the BBB at 256-355-5170 or going online at www.northalabama.bbb.org/lunchandlearn.
