Scams Aimed at College Students Part 2: Den of (Identity) Thieves

Submitted by Nathaniel Smith

So, you or someone you know has made it past the trials and tribulations of finding a scholarship. Congratulations! Now you or that someone you know is on their way to college. But not so fast! College students are still targets for scammers, even after they’re enrolled. If you read titles, then you know where this is going. If not, then welcome to a crash course in identity theft aimed at college students. 

When I say identity theft, the first thing that comes to mind is credit cards… and maybe those credit report commercials. Hacks and security breaches happen all the time. Online purchases and having your card on file with businesses does leave your information vulnerable. Hacks occur regularly enough and the only real way to guard yourself is to keep up with your credit report, which you can do at www.annualcreditreport.com.

When it comes to passwords and security questions, don’t keep using the same ones across multiple accounts. Variety is the spice of life! (And the spice of not having all of your accounts hacked). Avoid using your name, birthday, child or pets name. The best passwords use upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. The best security questions avoid using things that can easily be found online (like your favorite ___________ (fill in the blank), pets name, birthdate, school you went to, etc.).

Your smartphone can open a whole can of security worms. First, password protect your phone and use security software to keep it safe. Apps can contain malware that allow thieves access to your information. Do your homework first and read reviews on apps before installing them. Only install apps from trusted, legitimate sources (i.e. Apple’s App store). In that same vein, free music and games can include a Trojan horse for malware. I guess everything does have a price. 

While some of our readers’ greatest fear is their mom finding them on social media, it can be a useful tool for thieves as well. Don’t use links that may be questionable; they could try to install malware on your device. And make sure you only add people you really know. That “friend” may not really be a friend, but a scam artist who hacked an account. It’s also a social media best practice to keep your privacy settings set so that strangers can’t see your information.

Scam artists also know that sex sells, so beware of sites offering nude photos (especially if they’re celebrities. You might get the pictures they claimed to have, but you will definitely be leaving with malware).

Public WiFi is another place where thieves will try to steal your information from laptops, tablets, and smartphones if you don’t have encryption and security software on your device. It’s like my dad always tells me: son, keep your software up-to-date.

Scammers, while they come up with new ways to get you, do rely on “oldies but goodies.” In this case, I mean email. Scammers will send what may appear to be legitimate emails from legitimate institutions that ask you to click a link. Such suspicious emails should be deleted immediately.

Of course, even with all of the electronic security in place, your personal information can still be stolen. Locking your checkbooks, credit card and bank statements, social security card, and any other personal information in a safe place will help ensure that your personal information stays personal. Additionally, monitor your financial accounts regularly and shred paperwork with personal information on it.

Do you have any questions or concerns? Anything to contribute to the conversation? Feel free to leave a comment! And stay tuned for the next installment: When Job Hunters Become the Hunted.