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Back-to-School Basics: Paper Shredders Become Essential In Combating Identity Theft
College Bound Students Are Prime Targets for Identity Thieves
Itasca, Ill. (August 7, 2007) Whether it's signing up for pre-approved credit cards, providing personal information for promotional materials or tossing junk mail into public trash cans, many day-to-day activities unknowingly leave college students vulnerable to identity theft.
"For many college students, this is the first time they are living on their own," said Nancy Heaton, senior global marketing manager for Fellowes, Inc. "But with this new independence comes the need for responsibility. Students must keep a close eye on their personal information. Shredding all sensitive documents is a simple way for students to significantly reduce their risk of becoming a victim of identity theft."
According to the 2007 Identity Fraud Survey Report published by Javelin Strategy and Research, young adults ages 18 to 24 are more at risk for identity fraud than any other age group. In the midst of back-to-school excitement, students aren't thinking about protecting themselves from the crime. Javelin Strategy and Research also states victims in this age group are least likely to take easy, yet important precautionary steps such as shredding documents or using anti-virus, anti-spyware software or firewalls.
"It's alarming to see how careless students can be with their personal information," said Jay Foley, executive director of the Identity Theft Resource Center. "Many students are still in the 'I am invincible' stage of their lives and are not paying attention to the dangers that exist around them."
As students prepare for college, their back-to-school check list should include more than school supplies and dorm room accessories. A paper shredder should top the list. It's best to buy a confetti-cut shredder such as the Fellowes Powershred P-57Cs ($59) that shreds eight sheets of paper per pass, along with credit cards and staples. While many may believe tearing documents by hand is enough to protect against identity thieves, using a confetti-cut shredder is one of the only ways to ensure that private information is destroyed into small, unidentifiable pieces.
While shredding is one of the easiest ways to ensure all private information is properly destroyed, college students should familiarize themselves with a few additional tips to avoid falling victim to the crime:
- Do not throw credit card offers, bank statements or documents containing personal information into shared dumpsters or waste bins without shredding them first.
- If you're planning to apply for a credit card, a first for many college students, be sure to check your credit report annually.
- Many dormitories have an open box for outgoing mail, but to ensure personal information doesn't fall into the wrong hands, use a locked mailbox to send mail.
- As you're sharing your e-mail address with new friends or signing up to receive university updates, make sure you only download Internet files or click on hyperlinks from people you know.
- Use updated anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall software on your computer to protect against online scammers. If your school provides your computer, check to ensure the software on it is up-to-date.
- Never give out your credit card number or other personal information over the telephone unless you are the one who originated the call.
- Remove your Social Security number from personal checks, driver's license, and school identification cards. Securely store your Social Security card in a place other than your wallet or purse.
About Fellowes
Headquartered in Itasca, Ill., Fellowes, Inc. offers an impressive range of products to equip the workspace, including paper shredders, binders and laminators, desktop accessories and record storage solutions. Fellowes, Inc. owns and operates subsidiaries in Canada, United Kingdom, Benelux, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Singapore, Japan, Korea, China and Australia. The company employs more than 2,700 people throughout the world and expects global sales in excess of $700 million this year. For more information, visit www.fellowes.com.
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Copyright © Fellowes, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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