Protecting Children From Identity Theft
Children, even newborns, are vulnerable to becoming victims of identity theft. A crime that might go unnoticed for years.
Adults aren't the only ones have their identity stolen. Children, even newborns, are vulnerable to becoming victims of identity
theft and the results can be just as devestating and long-lasting for them as it is for adults. Many times the person committing
this crime is a family member or friend of the family. There are also criminals that target children because the identity theft
go undetected for a long time allowing the perpetrator ample opportunity to damage your childs credit. This crime may not be discovered
until your child goes to open their first bank account or denied a college loan. It can even result in the police coming to your door
to arrest your child for a crime they never committed. Children are just as vulnerable to identity theft as adults but protecting
them from this crime is up to their parents or guardians.
Here are some basic steps to take to help your child avoid becoming a victim of identity theft:
- Teach your child to keep personal information private. They need to be taught not to share passwords, Social Security numbers, bank account information, including PIN numbers, or any other personal data.
- Be very careful when giving out your child's Social Security number, or provide a photocopy of a birth certificate. There will be times when this is necessary - during school registration for example - but always question whether it is absolutely necessary. Also, don't hesitate to ask the party requesting the information exactly how it will be stored and who, if anybody, besides them will have access to the information.
- Leave Social Security cards at home. Everybody should do this. Any card with your Social Security number should be left at home, or have the number blacked out.
- Watch for collection notices and/or pre-approval credit offers arriving in your child's name. Always monitor your child's account statements for any red flags. Don't toss the savings account statement because "you know" that your four year old hasn't made any withdrawals.
- Maintain password integrity. Older children who may have PINs or passwords should be taught to change them regularly. Have them avoid using their mother's maiden name as a password, and store all electronic devices (cell phones, PDAs, laptops) securely. If an entity wants to use the Social Security number as an identification number, ask if there is another option.
- Perform occasional checks of your child's credit report. A new federal law gives consumers access to one free credit report every twelve months from each of the three major credit bureaus - Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion). There should be no activity, thus, there should be no file to check. Beware, however, as a crook could change the personal information enough to keep fraudulent activity from showing up on the credit file.
- Credit reporting companies now have staff trained in juvenile identity theft. If you have reason to worry, consider working with one of the credit bureaus directly. Credit bureaus will suppress the credit file to indicate that it belongs to a minor and prevent additional fraudulent activity.
Children and Identity Theft Links:
Child Identity Theft Tips
Fact Sheet 120 : Identity Theft and Children
Signs Can Indicate Whether a Child Has Been Victimized
Kids, Infants Fall Victim to Identity Theft
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