TEMPE, AZ – (August 5, 2008) – LifeLock, the nation’s leader in identity theft protection, wants to be sure college students remain safe from America’s fastest growing crime. As college students across the country prepare to head off to campus, checklists include bedding, laptops, futons and other essential dorm room supplies. Unfortunately, essentials such as paper shredders, lock boxes and computer locks may be missing from those lists. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the largest target group for identity thieves is young adults age 18-29.

Parents and students need to be aware of the ways in which thieves nab identities and how best to thwart those efforts to avoid future financial nightmares. Small overlooked missteps such as an unattended laptop at the library, an open backpack in the cafeteria, a lost wallet on the weekend and preapproved credit card applications provide open doors for criminals to compromise a student’s identity and financial information.

LifeLock offers the following tips for protection from identity theft college campuses return to life over the next few weeks:

• Don’t get carded – Carrying your Social Security card in your wallet is a bad idea for anyone, and unless you are filling out paperwork at a new job, it is best to leave this card at home in a lock box.
• Keep it confidential – College students sometimes visit social networking sites more often than class. It’s important to be aware of the type of information you add to your profile, the page applications you use and who has access. Keep your confidential information private.
• Avoid budget blunders – Learning how to stretch a dollar is part of orientation for every student. If shopping online at discount book sellers, classified or auction sites, avoid directly providing your credit card or banking information. Always use a secure third party payment application for transactions.
• Change your digits – Even if you are a student at a small school you are still “a number”. Some campuses may still use your Social Security number as a student identification number. If this is the case at your campus, immediately request to be assigned a different number.
• Say no to credit – Campuses frequently play host to credit companies offering free t-shirts and other customized college gear in exchange for students’ applications. Student mail boxes are also saturated with pre-approved credit card offers. Be sure not to provide personal information to strangers on the street and avoid tossing those credit card mailings in a community recycling bin providing thieves instant access to your identity.

About LifeLock®

Famous for its CEO giving out his Social Security number in advertising and national press, the company is experiencing strong growth. Located in a secure facility in Tempe, Ariz., LifeLock® (www.lifelock.com) is a private company backed by Goldman Sachs, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, as well as Bessemer Venture Partners. LifeLock was the winner of the 2008 American Business Awards for Best Magazine Advertisement and Best Radio Advertisement. The company was named recipient of the Red Herring 100 Global Award as one of the Top 100 start-ups in the world and was listed among the finalists for the Best Places to Work in 2007 by the Phoenix Business Journal. Most recently, LifeLock was awarded both the Hot Growth Award from bizAZ, and also the azFast 15 Award from the Arizona Business Magazine.