As thousands of students prepare to head back to university they were told to take steps to stop themselves falling prey to fraudsters.
Being away from home for the first time; independently managing their own finances; living in accommodation with shared letterboxes; regularly changing their address; and often carrying personal details and documents around – are all factors that leave students especially vulnerable to identity fraudsters.
A typical case of identity fraud takes 400 hours to resolve, time that students can ill afford to spend away from their studies. The survey was carried out by credit checking firm Experian, part of the Identity Fraud Consumer Awareness Group (IFCAG) – made up of representatives from law enforcement, the finance industry and Government organisations – which is running a nationwide campaign to raise public awareness of identity fraud.
Jill Stevens, director of consumer affairs at Experian, said: "With students, this is a particular problem because, when they graduate, a good credit record is absolutely essential to help them obtain the credit they might need, such as their first mortgage or a loan
to buy a car to get them to work.
"We are particularly appealing to parents to do their bit because they can really help, whether it be by storing important financial documents for their children or just equipping them with the advice and tips on how to avoid having their identities stolen and being impersonated."
Tips to avoid identity theft while at university include:
n Be careful if other people have access to your post, particularly in shared accommodation and collect your post daily. If you move home, tell your bank, credit card company and other organisations that you deal with immediately.
n Cancel any lost or stolen credit or debit cards immediately. Keep a note of the emergency numbers you should call.
n Be careful to keep your personal information secure when using your card over the phone, on the internet or in shops.
n Don't throw away documents such as bills, credit or debit card slips, bank statements or unwanted post in your name without first destroying them.
n Check statements as soon as they arrive. If any unfamiliar transactions are listed, contact the bank or company concerned immediately.