Too Young?--the True Face of Identity Theft Victim and Six Ways to Protect Your Child

    Identity theft continues to hit closer to home—in all regards. Children are a prime target of identity theft, and understandably so. Linda Foley, executive director of the Identity Theft Resource Center, points out why children are such good targets, “They usually have a spotless record and because they aren’t using their credit, the crime can go undetected for years.” Foley explained that parents need to be actively protecting their children. “I think we have to be as vigilant regarding their information as we are in guarding their physical being,” she suggested.
    Young victims of identity theft are becoming the norm, not the exception. According to the Federal Trade Commission, 500,000 children were victims of identity theft in 2005 and the number continues to grow. Children are certainly at risk.
    Of the over 255,000 actual complaints received by the Federal Trade Commission in 2005 regarding identity theft, five percent were for individuals younger than 18 years old. More recent studies have shown that the most frequently targeted category is children between the ages of 0-5 years old, because it’s so easy to steal the identity and the theft may go undetected for far longer.

    Following are a few suggestions you should take to protect your identity, and the identities of your family members:

1. Don’t reveal your Social Security number (or your child’s) for unnecessary reasons.
2. Don’t carry your Social Security card or your child’s Social Security card(s).
3. Don’t just throw away business mail addressed to your child. Credit offers and account statements could be reason for alarm.
4. Teach your children proper safety and personal protection for Internet use, especially on social networking sites.
5. Make photocopies of personal material you keep in your wallet so if you lose it, you will know what exactly was taken and who to notify.
6. Perform checks on your child’s credit report when you check your own.

We suggest you find an identity theft protection service that includes a family plan. Find out which service is right for you and your family by comparing the top choices side-by-side.