BBB warns college-age students vulnerable to identity theft - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL

A report from the Better Business Bureau found young adults entering college are among the most vulnerable to identity theft.

The BBB said students entering college have not been affected by identity theft in their lives so they tend to be more trustful.

More than 56,000 consumers between the ages 20 and 29 fell victim to identity theft in 2011, according to the Consumer Sentinel Network database. The BBB said this accounts for 23 percent of the total number of identity theft complaints reported last year.

The BBB said students face new responsibilities at school, work, and social lives and may be less careful of their personal information in this environment.

Michele Mason, CEO of the BBB of North Alabama, said college students may not be as privy to the threat of identity theft because they have not experienced it yet.

"Sometimes they're thinking a little bit that they're invincible, that it's not going to happen to them or they're just not aware," Mason said.

The BBB offered several tips to avoid identity theft for college students.

First, secure all postage mail. College campus mailboxes are easily accessible to others so make sure mail is retrieved regularly.

Also, send any sensitive mail to a permanent address like a parent's home.

The BBB also recommends considering identity theft protection services that will help monitor accounts and alert students if something is suspicious.

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