As the new academic year starts in September, credit experts at Equifax said it only takes fraudsters three pieces of personal information to be able to commit identity fraud.

The company’s external affairs director, Neil Munroe said: “Shared living throws up all kinds of challenges, from who does the washing up, to splitting the bills, but we believe ID fraud is also one that students need to take seriously.

“The realities of university life means many students are sharing accommodation which unfortunately provides fraudsters with many opportunities.

“And combined with the fact that it can take as little as just three pieces of personal information to commit ID fraud it’s absolutely crucial that students stay alert to the risks, whether it’s skimming through post in a communal hallway or stealing a phone or laptop left lying around.

“Once a fraudster has sufficient information to steal someone’s identity it can take many hours to rectify records held by all sorts of organisations. And in the meantime, it can be exceptionally difficult to carry on with everyday life, especially where it requires access to credit, including something as simple as a mobile phone contract.”

Equifax said students need to be aware of the risks of fraud associated with using social networking sites and posting any personal information online, including CVs.

TOP STUDENT TIPS FOR AVOIDING ID FRAUD

•If you have a communal hallway, get important documents such as bank and credit card statements sent recorded delivery or delivered to a family home address.

•Password protect all digital devices, including smart phones.

•Don’t store PINs and passwords on mobiles and laptops, as thieves will be able to use this information to access your personal information.

•Try not to access online banking and secure sites in internet cafes and make sure you log out of the site rather than just closing the window.

•Keep personal documents secure – when you go out make sure you only take those documents you need.

•Never share your password or PINs to a friend.

•Don’t give out all your personal information on your CV when posting it online or making it available to others – you can always provide more information at a later date.

•Check that websites on which you upload personal details have security locks to reduce the risk of them being hacked into.

•Redirect mail if you move so personal information can’t be accessed by fraudsters.

•Always check bank statements and credit card statements carefully against receipts to ensure fraudulent activity has not taken place.

•Make sure you have the latest virus protection that ideally updates hourly.

•Check your credit report regularly to ensure there has been no unauthorised activity.