RESTON, Va., June 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- For the majority of
customers, paper-shredding is the method of choice for guarding against
identity theft, according to a new survey by Sallie Mae, the nation's
leading saving- and paying-for-college company.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030617/SLMLOGO-a )
The new report surveys Sallie Mae customers who have entered repayment,
as part of a corporate effort to educate customers on fiscal responsibility
and sound debt management. Of the more than 2,000 respondents, nearly half
(47 percent) reported shredding personal bills and documents containing
private information in order to protect themselves against identity theft.
One-fourth of respondents said they refrained from giving out their social
security number in order to protect personal information. Twenty-three
percent said they check their credit report frequently for unauthorized
activity, and 2 percent said they avoid making credit card purchases
online. Only 4 percent of respondents said they do not take any special
precautions to prevent identity theft.
"Consumers generally make an effort to protect their personal property-
such as wallets, cars and valuables-against theft," said Martha Holler,
spokeswoman, Sallie Mae. "It is critically important that consumers guard
against identity theft in the same way and make wise choices to protect
their personal information and finances."
There are several ways consumers can protect themselves, Holler added:
"When someone steals your identity, your finances and your credit score are
at risk. Taking steps to avoid identity theft is much easier than repairing
damage to your identity and finances. Be sure to guard your social security
number, pick your online passwords carefully, pay attention to your mail
and be cautious about what type of information you put in the trash. It is
also important to review your credit reports at least once a year for
unauthorized activity." Holler advises consumers to use common sense and
take immediate action if they suspect identity theft.
The survey, conducted online at http://www.SallieMae.com during February 2007,
is part of a monthly survey series on a variety of debt management-related
topics.
SLM Corporation (NYSE: SLM), commonly known as Sallie Mae, is the
nation*s leading provider of saving- and paying-for-college programs. The
company manages $150 billion in education loans and serves nearly 10
million student and parent customers. Through its Upromise affiliates, the
company also manages $17 billion in 529 college-savings plans, and over 7.5
million members have joined Upromise to help save for college with rewards
on purchases at nearly 70,000 places. Sallie Mae and its subsidiaries offer
debt management services as well as business and technical products to a
range of business clients, including higher education institutions, student
loan guarantors and state and federal agencies. More information is
available at http://www.salliemae.com. SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries are
not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.
SOURCE Sallie Mae
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Related links:
http://www.salliemae.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030617/SLMLOGO-a
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/827187.html /
CONTACT:
Erica Eriksdotter, +1-703-984-5628,
erica.eriksdotter@salliemae.com
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