Children and Identity Theft

Children: Identity Thieves' Latest Victims Identity theft can happen to yes, that's right-children! It can even happen to babies. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the number of victims of identity theft below the age of 18 is growing. How does this happen? Generally, the thief gets hold of the child's Social Security Number. Possible Scenario: Parents obtain a Social Security Number for their newborn son in order to claim him as an income tax dependent. They are asked to enter the child's social security number at a day care center. A short-term employee who is a member of an identity theft operation gains access to the Social Security Number. An identity thief takes out a loan, applies for a credit card, makes purchases, even rents an apartment in the child's name. The child has no credit history and therefore a clean credit record. Sadly, for years, the parents have no idea that this crime has occurred. Like most parents, they didn't see any reason to check their child's credit report. They don't learn about the identity theft until the child is 14, when their child applies for his first job. The damage from theft of a child's identity can be far-reaching. The thief can apply for a job, sign up for phone service, even commit a crime in the child's name. And the theft may be undetected for many years. How do you protect your child's identity? Guard his/her Social Security number. Don't carry Social Security Cards and don't enter Social Security Numbers on school or medical office forms. Tell your child never to give their Security Security Number to anyone. Explain that if someone asks for it, or they are asked to fill out a form that requests this information, they should not share it and they should tell you about the request immediately. Be suspicious of mail addressed to your child coming from collection agencies, financial institutions, credit card companies. Tell children who use the Internet not to post personal information on a personal web page or social networking page, eg. MySpace, Facebook. Have a frank discussion with your child about exactly what constitutes personal information. Identity thieves and other online criminals may visit a young person's page on several occasions, each time picking up information from your child's postings or blog, including photos of the child, friend's names, school name, address, birthdate, sports team, upcoming social plans, vacations, etc. They can use this information to try to contact your child, assume your child's identity on or offline, or for other unauthorized use. Additional Resources ITRC (Identity Theft Resource Center): Identity Theft and Children Related Articles Protecting Your Privacy

Children: Identity Thieves' Latest Victims

Identity theft can happen to yes, that's right-children! It can even happen to babies. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the number of victims of identity theft below the age of 18 is growing. How does this happen? Generally, the thief gets hold of the child's Social Security Number.

Possible Scenario:

Parents obtain a Social Security Number for their newborn son in order to claim him as an income tax dependent.
They are asked to enter the child's social security number at a day care center.
A short-term employee who is a member of an identity theft operation gains access to the Social Security Number.
An identity thief takes out a loan, applies for a credit card, makes purchases, even rents an apartment in the child's name. The child has no credit history and therefore a clean credit record.
Sadly, for years, the parents have no idea that this crime has occurred. Like most parents, they didn't see any reason to check their child's credit report. They don't learn about the identity theft until the child is 14, when their child applies for his first job.

The damage from theft of a child's identity can be far-reaching. The thief can apply for a job, sign up for phone service, even commit a crime in the child's name. And the theft may be undetected for many years.

How do you protect your child's identity?

Guard his/her Social Security number. Don't carry Social Security Cards and don't enter Social Security Numbers on school or medical office forms.

Tell your child never to give their Security Security Number to anyone. Explain that if someone asks for it, or they are asked to fill out a form that requests this information, they should not share it and they should tell you about the request immediately.

Be suspicious of mail addressed to your child coming from collection agencies, financial institutions, credit card companies.

Tell children who use the Internet not to post personal information on a personal web page or social networking page, eg. MySpace, Facebook. Have a frank discussion with your child about exactly what constitutes personal information. Identity thieves and other online criminals may visit a young person's page on several occasions, each time picking up information from your child's postings or blog, including photos of the child, friend's names, school name, address, birthdate, sports team, upcoming social plans, vacations, etc. They can use this information to try to contact your child, assume your child's identity on or offline, or for other unauthorized use.

Additional Resources

ITRC (Identity Theft Resource Center): Identity Theft and Children

Related Articles

Protecting Your Privacy

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Children and Identity Theft