7 Tips to Help College Students Avoid Identity Theft
June 10, 2021
enough precautions to protect themselves. Here are the places students are most vulnerable and what can be done to help.
Dorm Rooms
People come and go in dorm rooms and it can be hard to protect private papers and items. Lock away credit card statements and personal papers. And don’t throw information that has your bank or social security number, etc. in the trash where it can
be easily retrieved.
Smartphones
The fix here is easy. To protect the data on a smartphone, use a proper password and add security software.
Free Music and Games
Sometimes free music and game downloads have keystroke logging malware that the student unwittingly downloads with the music or game. Here’s an article from the FTC on how to avoid malware.
Passwords
We can all be careless with passwords, using the same one over and over. Encourage your college student to update passwords regularly (experts recommend every three months). The best passwords contain a long mix of small letters, capital letters, numbers,
and symbols.
Security Questions
It’s important the student uses information not available on Facebook or elsewhere. (No pet’s name, birthdate, high school, or favorite team, for example).
Wi-Fi
College students often use Wi-Fi in coffee houses, malls, and other public places where identity thieves can set up Wi-Fi to gather personal information on their victims’ devices if they’re not equipped with security software. Remind them
to keep that security and anti-malware software current.
Credit Cards
When purchasing things online, students may leave their credit cards on file for convenience. Don’t choose to do this. If the company is hacked and the card is on file, identity theft is a possibility.
For more tips on how to keep the entire family safe from fraud, visit our security center. If you have specific concerns you’d
like to discuss with us, email our fraud team at fraud@redwoodcu.org, or log in to your RCU account to send a secure message.
PPP Forgiveness Application Deadline
Congress passed The Economic Aid Act which changed the deferment period from 6 months post covered period to 10 months post covered period. For example, if your covered period ended June 30, 2021, under the new guidelines the earliest your first loan payment wouldn’t be due until April 2022, and you have until then to request forgiveness. Please use the following calculation to help you identify when your forgiveness will be due:
- PPP borrowers may select a covered period anywhere from 8 weeks to 24 weeks.
- RCU is automatically calculating your loan due date based on a 24-week covered period, if you intend on using a shorter covered period please inform us immediately as this will impact your due date.
- Your correct deadline will be reflected in your online banking account.
If all or part of your PPP loan is not forgiven, your first loan payment will be due the first of the following month after a decision is made by the SBA.
Test
Content
Leaving Our Website
You are leaving our website and linking to an alternative website not operated by us. Redwood Credit Union does not endorse or guarantee the products, information, or recommendations provided by third-party vendors or third-party linked sites.