Do You Know Who You’re Rooming With?
Article by PSECU's Loss Prevention & Security Unit
Going away to college is exciting. As part of your preparations, you'll have to gather the things you need to set up your home away from home. In addition to your laptop, iPod®, microwave, refrigerator and TV, don't forget cash and forms of identification.
You will probably be sharing your new home with another person - your roommate.
If you've never shared space with anyone, you might be in for an eye-opening experience. When you live with someone, you end up sharing a lot about yourself, like eating and sleeping habits, study preferences and of course, personal information.
Even if you're rooming with someone you know, it's important to lay out ground rules for keeping your room and your valuables secure. You and your roommate are not the only ones with access to your room. Friends and others living in close proximity, as well as school staff, will no doubt be entering what you thought was your private sanctuary. Make a pledge to each other that your room will be locked at all times when neither of you are in the room - even to run down the hall to the restroom or go next door to visit.
Consider using a safe or fireproof lockbox to store private information or items like your driver's license, if you don't have a car on campus. Remember you are sharing your living space, and your roommate and anyone visiting have access to everything in the room. Identity theft and use of personal information or computer access can lead to big problems.
What to Secure?
- Bank statements
- Checkbook
- Credit, debit or ATM cards
- Credit card offers
- Driver's license
- Passwords & Personal Identification Numbers (PIN)
- Personal mail
- Physical items (iPod, laptop)
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Student identification
Don't leave your cash, checkbook, credit, debit or ATM cards out in the open … or even in your jeans pocket. Guard your PIN and/or password. Keep them in a secured area away from the card or account number they're associated with. Be sure to keep the phone numbers to report lost or stolen cards separate from your wallet and cards. Report a missing card immediately. And don't forget about your laptop! Remember to always log out before you walk away, especially if you've been doing online banking.
Your driver's license and student ID can give a lot of personal information to the wrong person. Persons who commit identity theft need very little information to obtain credit cards, loans or other services in your name. After all the fun of college has faded to a memory, you may discover that your credit history has been ruined and find it hard to get an auto loan, mortgage and even a job. For more credit-related information, click here.
Be well-informed about your student ID. If it can be used to access the campus network, someone could use your ID to send inappropriate e-mail or other Internet content and get you in trouble. Is there some type of bank account or declining cafeteria balance attached to your card? For these reasons, be sure to know how to immediately report a lost or stolen student ID.
If your family is going to be forwarding your mail, a shredder may be a good idea. You will receive more credit card offers than you know what to do with. Other personal mail should be secured or shredded, including paystubs from electronically deposited payroll. Guarding your personal information is not a reflection of how trustworthy you believe your new roommate to be. Protecting your assets - personal information, money and things - is a good habit. Start it early. And you may be able to share some tips with your new roommate to prevent him or her from losing important stuff as well!
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