Collegiate Times

It's a common generalization that college students love free souvenirs. They know that by filling out a credit card form, they'll receive a free t-shirt, meal voucher and other prizes in exchange. But do college students really understand the consequences and responsibilities linked to that small piece of plastic?

One responsibility of owning a credit card is as simple as knowing where it is at all times. At any given point, a lost or stolen credit card could rack up your credit card bill or destroy your credit. So how does a college student maintain the security of his or her identity?

Easy. Be sure to present a proper form of identification before swiping a credit card. Christopher Downey, a psychology graduate student, and Henry Howard, a senior psychology major, are currently conducting a study sponsored by the Center for Applied Behavior Systems to identify theft by anonymously collecting and analyzing data from Blacksburg and Christiansburg stores.

Their study involved examining cashier ID-checking behaviors regarding credit and debit card purchases in Blacksburg and Christiansburg. According to their data study, their hope is that once cashier ID-checking behaviors were investigated, a media-based intervention effort could be produced to increase these preventative behaviors.

Their data reported that 89 percent of cashiers did not ask for proper ID when a customer made a purchase using a debit or credit card. The locations that were investigated included gas stations, grocery stores, retail stores and restaurants. Out of the group, retail stores had the highest percentage of requiring ID, at 16 percent. Grocery stores came in last place at 6 percent.

?We collected a total of 309 purchases. Out of the 309, only 273 cashiers did not check for ID while 34 cashiers did check for ID,? Downey said. The purchases totaled $9,826.93, but only $1,112.56 of the purchases were accounted for by valid identification.

?The interventions that we are doing involve the media, print and television about what is going on for this area so that retailers and different businesses can look out and that it is important to check for ID,? Downey said.

The study required research participants to make regular purchases, and later fill out a data sheet of their observations during the transaction.

?They were told not to specifically purchase specific items. They do the purchases normally and mentally note everything - the cashier's demographics, and an estimate of their age,? said Howard. ?If they were using a debit card, they were told to swipe it as a credit card, so they would be forced to sign it.?

In last semester's study, 21 participants used someone else's credit card, but only one of them was asked to provide proper identification. The backs of 17 credit cards asked to check for ID, but only five cashiers asked for identification.

According to the 2006 Identity Fraud Survey Report released by the Better Business Bureau and the Javelin Study Research group, lost or stolen wallets, checkbooks and credit cards are the primary source of identity theft. They reported that 47 percent of stolen identity was perpetrated by a friend, relative, neighbor or coworker of the person.

James Van Dyke, a researcher of the Javelin Study Research group, said that college students face a higher risk of being victims of identity theft.

?One of the unique things that face college students is that their personal records can often be exposed to others, and they are at a particularly high risk. They might share dormitories or apartments, and have a credit card or bank statement lying around,? Van Dyke said. ?With college students, in particular, face a higher risk because they often have roommates or people who come and go. Younger people can be more sociable than older people.?

Van Dyke said that along with a lost or stolen credit card, account statements and financial information are becoming large tools of identity fraud.

?In a literal sense, think of personal financial records as currency. Because everything on that statement is everything that is required to commit fraud: transaction records, credit card number, the address and accounts. The data shows that the exchange of personal financial information causes people to become victims of identity fraud,? he said.

Van Dyke suggested that college students should lock down information on credit cards, accounts and other personal financial information. Students should also take advantage of the Internet to check their accounts on a regular basis for invalid transactions. Also, using the Internet to check statements will prevent the theft of paper bills, financial records and account statements.

Downey and Harry said that their study is a proactive approach to forewarn consumers about the possibilities of identity theft in the surrounding Virginia Tech community.

?Some perceptions of the public may be, that perhaps, because Blacksburg is a college town, it may be a safer town. Here people feel safe, and think it's not a major deal,? Howard said.