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Why Children Are A Prime Target For Identity Theft

by Lisa_Carey

As parents we most often carefully monitor our child�s websites,
emails, cell phone and text messages because we are concerned.
Many times it is a concern for our child�s safety. We worry about
them being approached inappropriately online. We are concerned
about sexual predators. But have we considered that our children
may also be in a different kind of danger --the danger of
identity theft?

Children are the perfect target for identity theft. They have a
spotless credit record and because they are not using their
credit it may go undetected for several years. They grow up and
suddenly there discover their credit records are blemished. Can
the information that we share about our children, whether it is
online, to a school or medical professional allow the opportunity
for identity theft?

In 2005 the Federal Trade Commission reported that over half a
million children were victims of identity theft. These cases
include: the use of a child�s Social Security Number being used
illegally for income tax purposes and obtaining credit in a
child�s name. It�s easy enough to do; just the other day one of
my own children received a credit card offer in the mail. What if
that fell into the wrong hands?

How can you protect your child from identity theft? The National
Cyber Security Alliance calls social networking sites �billboards
in cyberspace.� Would you post on a billboard your child�s
personal information, such a social security number? To protect
your child from identity theft you can take the following steps:

Limit access to your profile, photographs, blogs and other
online sources.

Limit access to your child�s social security number. You can
refuse to provide it to schools and medical providers.
Educational or health benefits can not be denied based on keeping
your information private.

Keep a safe spot in your home for important documents. This can
be a lock box or file cabinet with a lock on it.

When someone request your child�s SSN know the reason for doing
so. Ask for copies of the bank account statement or other
verifying documents if they claim that they are setting up a
savings account or other investment opportunity for your child.
Note, in the event a family member or friend wants to create an
investment or savings fund for your child establish the account
yourself and note that deposits can be made by specific
individuals on the account. This keeps your child�s social
security number private.

Do not carry important documents in your purse.

Do not provide your children with their SSN or Birth Certificate
until they are older. Destroy and/or shred any and all documents
of a personal nature including credit card offers, medical claim
forms (after paid) and any other document you do not need to
keep. Invest in a scanner and scan the documents into your
computer, save it to a disc and keep it under lock and key.

Be sure to use your computer�s parental controls, including
spyware and anti virus software, not only for to protect your
child�s information but yours also.

Ask questions and distrust any website or telephone call that
asks for your child�s social security number. Make sure that any
request for your child�s SSN is valid, relevant and necessary
before providing it.

Thoroughness and vigilance are absolutely necessary to protect
your child from identity theft. In most cases, identity theft to
children is committed by friends or family members, however more
and more instances occur as a result of information posted on the
internet; whether by yourself or your child. Don�t worry about
what people will think of you. Those that understand will see you
as a concerned parent who is being very aware of the real world
and its dangers, and one not only protects their child�s future
financial wellbeing, but also sets the example to other parents
by teaching them how to protect their children from identity
theft.

Lisa Carey is a contributing author for <a
href="http://www.identitytheftsecrets.com" title="Identity theft
protection and solutions">Identity Theft Secrets: prevention and
protection</a>. You can get tips on Identity theft protection,
software, and monitoring your credit as well as learn more about
the secrets used by identity thieves at the <a
href="http://www.identitytheftsecrets.com" title="Identity theft
blog">Identity Theft Secrets blog</a>.

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