Back-to-college security tips from identity theft expert Robert Siciliano

College students aren't the only ones returning to school this year. Chances are identity thieves will be right there with them – but students can take steps to protect themselves.

College security expert Robert Siciliano is teaming up with with uni-ball® pens and the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) to provide helpful tips on student safety and identity theft prevention while away at college.

Identity theft does not discriminate, and college students are no exception. Take the uni-ball Student Risk Index quiz. Are you security-savvy, or crime's next victim?

Back-to-college tips from identity theft expert Robert Siciliano and uni-ball pens

College students aren't the only ones returning to school this year. Chances are good that identity thieves will be right there with them – but students can take steps to protect themselves.

College security expert Robert Siciliano is teaming up with with uni-ball® pens and the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) to provide helpful tips on student safety and identity theft prevention while away at college:

1. Talk to your student about the importance of reconciling his or her bank statement each month. This is one of the quickest ways to spot existing account fraud and stop identity thieves by flagging any activity other than your own.
2. Contact the university and ask them not to use your student’s social security number for identification purposes or to post grades. With identity theft being so prevalent these days, many universities are switching to systems that generate completely random identification numbers for student ID cards, but you can never be too sure.
3. Invest in a lockbox or safe to securely store documents and valuables and remind your student to never leave important documents or personal papers lying out in the open where they can be seen or stolen.
4. Use a uni-ball pen to write rent checks and sign all important documents. These gel pens are less than $2 and contain Uni "Super Ink," which is specially formulated to reduce document fraud and check washing, a traditional form of identity theft.
5. Be careful to shield your PIN number from those behind you when using ATM machines, and be on the lookout for "skimmers," or fake card readers attached to the machine that retain cardholder account information for thieves.
6. Always lock car doors and entrances to your apartment, dorm room or house – especially first and second floor windows. If biking, secure your bike on campus and off with a sturdy lock.
7. Buy a diamond-cut document shredder to destroy credit card solicitations and other sensitive documents.
8. Be aware of what you post on the Internet, especially online social networks like Facebook and MySpace. You can never be sure of who is viewing your personal information or pictures.
9. Make sure that your computer is protected by a firewall and you are using secure software.
10. Don't share online passwords with anyone, even your friends or roommates. Theft can occur by people you already know.

As part of the its ongoing campaign to elevate awareness about the growing threat of identity theft, uni-ball® is working with the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) and Robert Siciliano to help stop identity thieves in their tracks. As CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com, Siciliano has seen first-hand the brute blow identity theft delivers to its victims, and has helped scores of them dig out from the financial and emotional turmoil of being scammed.

Together, the ITRC, Siciliano and uni-ball are issuing the following warnings, asking consumers to be on high alert during tax time for these identity theft scams and more:

Professional thieves and targeted attacks

The ITRC is anticipating an increase in more sophisticated ways to "mine" information, sometimes by organized crime groups. Cybercrime, which includes transporting or selling large amounts of personal information from one group both nationally and internationally, will continue and expand. Part of this trend includes "skimming" (duplicate scanning of credit cards or debit cards), and fake fronts on payment scanners and ATM machines.

Tax Preparer Scams

Most recently, there have been reports of tax preparers telling their clients they have to pay back their 2008 stimulus checks and then pocketing the money. Not all professional tax preparers have your best interest at heart, according to the ITRC. Make sure you do research and choose your tax preparer wisely.

Check Fraud

As it becomes more difficult to get new lines of credit, identity thieves may be drawn more to commit check fraud. These crimes may take the form of stolen checks, using checks thrown into the trash by unknowing consumers, or a type of identity theft known as "check washing." Check washing occurs when checks or other tax-related documents are stolen from the mail or by other means and the ink is erased using common household chemicals, allowing thieves to endorse checks to themselves. This is where something as simple and inexpensive as a select uni-ball pen can help. Select uni-ball pens contain specially formulated gel ink (trademarked Uni-Super Ink™) that is absorbed into the paper's fibers and can never be washed out.

Late Payment Scam

As people fall behind on their utilities or taxes, lists are created and available either internally or as public record. These lists can fall into the wrong hands and thieves call unassuming people to collect.

Text Messaging Scams: Phexting

Criminal hackers have access to everything these days, including the technology that generates cell phone numbers, as well as access to mass text messaging services. Once the data is secured, they are able to send text messages that install keyloggers (a method of capturing and recording user keystrokes) or direct you to web sites that steal personal data.

Internet Scams: Phishing

Phony e-mails that try to trick customers into giving out personal information are the hottest, and most disturbing, new scam on the Internet. "Phishing" frauds attempt to make Internet users believe that they are receiving email from a specific, trusted source, or that they are securely connected to a trusted Web site, when that is not the case. This scam is generally used as a means to convince individuals to provide personal or financial information that enables the perpetrators to commit credit card/bank fraud or other forms of identity theft.