Most people are familiar with identity theft, a
crime in which someone uses your name, social
security number, and other personal information
to run up credit card bills, empty your bank
account, or even commit other crimes. Many
citizens have even taken steps to protect
themselves from identity theft—shredding credit
card bills, not carrying their Social Security
card, etc.
But parents may also need to
protect their children from identity thieves as
well as themselves.
Children are increasingly becoming popular
targets of identity thieves. According to the
Identity Theft Resource Center, 500,000 children
had their identities stolen in 2005. Identity
thieves target children because the kids’
information is frequently readily available and
useful for many years. Since the crimes usually
aren't uncovered until the victims try to
establish credit, they can go undetected for
years.
Tips to Avoid Child ID Theft
 | Limit access to your child’s Social
Security number by not providing it on
sports team sign-ups and other non-essential
forms |
| Shred all papers that contain account or
Social Security numbers |
| Do not carry your child’s Social
Security card or number in your wallet |
| College students should ask their school
not to use their SSN as their college ID
number |
| Social Security numbers should never be
given out over the phone or on the Internet.
|
| Observe the mail. If bills, statements
or credit card offers begin arriving in your
child’s name, call the credit reporting
bureaus to check on his or her credit
record. There should be none. |
For more information on how to protect your
child and what to do if your child has been a
victim, visit
http://www.idtheftcenter.org/artman2/publish/v_fact_sheets/Fact_Sheet_120.shtml.
Source:
http://www.whostolemyidentity.com/2007/04/child-identity-theft/ and
http://www.bankrate.com/nltrack/news/debt/20070103_child_identity_theft_a1.asp
.
