Children Are Victims of Identity Theft Too
In today's world, one way for an identity to be stolen is through that person's social security number. With our advanced society that is so fast paced, it has become a trend for new parents to apply for a social security number for their child when they are born, thinking that they are helping their child's future. Yet it is through those same actions that they are doing creating the exact opposite result. It isn't necessary for a newborn child to receive a social security number. A social security number is necessary for those seeking employment, needing social assistance or other types of government funding - none of which are necessary for children to receive. When a young child has received a social security number, they have unfortunately become an easy target for identity stealing thieves who love these social security numbers as they usually go unmonitored for many, many years..
A report was released in 2006 stating that in America an average of 5 percent of all identity theft victims were children under the age of 18 years. That means that over 50,000 children a year become victims of identity theft. Thieves are finding it easier than ever to commit fraud using a child's identity since children normally don't have a credit history nor will they need to use their credit until they enter into post secondary education at the earliest.
When a child's identity is stolen, the thieves can use this information for a greater reduction on their taxes, to receive expensive hospital procedures and apply for credit cards with no intention of paying these bills. When a child's social security number is received, it must be kept in a safe place; otherwise the child's identity could be at risk.
There are ways to protect your child and their future credit history. If you have secured a social security number for your child, be careful about which institutions you give your child's social security number to. There are various organizations that will need to retain your children's personal information for their files. Doctor offices, schools and daycare centers all routinely ask for copies of a child's birth certificate. As a parent is it up to you to determine if it is really necessary for these organizations to have this information. While some organizations, like the doctor's office, may actually need to be provided with this information, as a parent it is your right to ask how they dispose of and store all patient information.
Finding lost or discarded information is fairly easy. Dumpster diving is one way that identity thieves retrieve their information. It is important that you ensure that all forms where you write your child's social security number on are properly discarded - as in shredding - and not just thrown into a garbage bin crumpled up. You can do this by asking how that company discards personal information. It is estimated that roughly one quarter of all child identity thefts occur when a dishonest employee snoops in files they aren't authorized to view at their place of work. The fewer places your child's information is recorded the safer your child is.
Do not give out your child's personal information to family or close friends unless it is absolutely necessary. It has happened where in many child identity theft cases a child's credit has been ruined by a close friend or relative who were able to access the social security number or other information of a child. Only parents or legal guardians need to know a child's social security number once it has been received.
One very important step to take towards safeguarding a child's identity is to teach your child about the dangers of giving out personal information. It is especially important to teach your child about the dangers of the internet and how to protect yourself from hidden dangers. Teach your child not to use their personal information on-line, specifically on social networking sites where they ask for information such as birth date, address, and phone numbers. Make sure that you regularly check your child's profile on these sites in order to monitor what type of information your child is making public. There are many child friendly sites available to children where they can meet new friends and not have the opportunity to give out this information.
Teach your child how to protect their personal information on a daily basis. As your child gets older it is important to teach them how important it is to always be aware of their 'stuff'. Wallets, purses and even cell phones can provide identity thieves with ready access to all types of personal information. Make sure your child is ready for this responsibility before they are allowed to carry these items out in public.
Check your children's credit reports annually when you check your own.
Each year all the major credit agencies will allow people to obtain one free credit report. When you check your credit, you should also attempt obtain a free credit report for each of your children if they have social security numbers. If everything is normal, your child's report should be blank. It is also important to be aware that if your child begins to receive credit card offers in the mail it is a signal that their identity could have been compromised. If that happens, check their credit report immediately.
When it comes to identity theft, it is important to be aware that it is not only your identity that can be compromised but also your child's. With smaller children it is your responsibility to protect their personal information from being used illegally. As your child gets older, it is essential that you begin to teach your child how to protect themselves from identity thieves. It is our job as parents to teach our children the necessary skills for them to become successful adults, and learning how to protect their identity is one of these important skills. It's never too early to begin protecting your children's identity, in fact, you should begin today or better yet, right now.
Rocky Bailey is an identity theft specialist who is passionate about educating consumers regarding the dangers of identity theft. He hopes you will take the time to learn more about identity theft protection at http://www.identitytheftlabs.com/ and start protecting your family today.
