As thousands of students descend upon Washtenaw County this fall as college resumes, not only will they have to be vigilant about hitting the books but also protecting themselves from identity theft.

According to one study, they're the most vulnerable age group when it comes to having personal information stolen to commit fraud.

A 2010 survey by financial services researchers at Javelin Strategy and Research found adults between 18 and 24 take the longest time to detect identity theft, at 132 days. The average financial toll of $1,156 is consequently five times more damaging to those wallets than to any other age group.

In response, the Better Business Bureau issued tips students can take to protect themselves:

1. Mail security Because school and apartment mailboxes can often be easily accessed, sensitive mail should be sent to a permanent address or a P.O. box.

2. Filing Important documents should be locked up in a filing cabinet, including Social Security card, passport and bank and credit card statements.

3. Shredding Any paper documents containing sensitive financial information, including credit card offers, should be shredded rather than thrown away.

4. Don’t lend that card The BBB advises never to loan a credit or debit card. Don’t get roped into co-signing for a loan or financing big ticket items.

5. Computer protection Make sure your computer has up-to-date antivirus and spyware software and always install any updates and patches to your computer’s operating system or browser.

6. Check bank and credit statements often Check your credit or debit card statements closely for suspicious activity.

7. Avoid shopping on unfamiliar websites One option is to check the company out first with wynco.bbb.org.

8. Check your credit report This can and should be done at least once a year with three reporting bureaus for any suspicious activity, which can be done for free at this website.

Juliana Keeping is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter