I was taken aback when I first heard about child identity theft. The fact is, children are increasingly VERY popular targets of identity thieves. This is a crime all parents should be aware of. Did you know that according to the Identity Theft Resource Center, 500,000 children had their identities stolen in 2005? So why do Identity thieves like to target kids? The reason is really simple if you think about it. It is because their information is often readily available and useful for many years: children often don’t discover their identities have been stolen until they grow up and begin trying to get jobs, take out car loans, and obtain mortgages, or apply for their first credit card.
While as parents we pride ourselves on being a responsible, safe, and caring parent. Your child wears a seatbelt, uses a bike helmet, walks when carrying scissors, and eats five servings of vegetables a day. In short, you are doing your best to ensure that your child grows up to be a healthy, happy, well-adjusted adult. Who knew that this job includes safeguarding your children from identity thieves?
Identity thieves target children precisely because few adults are aware that their children are at risk. The thieves typically have years and years to live off your child’s identity before the child grows up and wants to open a checking account or get a job – only to find out that his or her credit rating is a mess. Some signs of child identlty theft to look for that might indicate your child has been a victim of identity theft include
- Getting credit card offers in the mail
- Bills for your child arriving in the mail
- Calls from bill collectors
What to do if Your Childs Identity is Stolen?
Table of Contents
- Get a copy of your child’s credit record. You can request a free copy from the three major credit reporting agencies by going to www.annualcredit report.com or calling 1-877-322-8228. You can also request that a fraud alert be placed on your child’s file, which will prevent identity thieves from opening any more accounts in your child’s name.
- Get a copy of your child’s Social Security statement, which you can obtain at www.ssa.gov/mystatement/ or by calling 1-800-772-1213. This statement will help you determine if anyone has used your child’s Social Security number to get a job or obtain government benefits.
- File a police report. You will likely need a copy of a police report to show creditors.
- Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by using their online complaint form or calling the 1-877-ID-THEFT. The FTC supports law enforcement officials as they track down and stop identity thieves.
- Contact creditors listed on your child’s credit record, notifying them of the situation and asking them to close the account. You will probably need to complete a fraud affidavit for each creditor. The FTC provides a uniform affidavit form, which is available at www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/affidavit.pdf .
- Keep a log of all phone conversations, dates, times, names, phone numbers, and topic of discussion
- Track your time and expenses
- Confirm the results of conversations in writing
- Send correspondence by certified mail, return receipt requested
- Keep copies of all letters and documents you send
How can I tell if my child’s identity has been stolen?
Watch for warning signs that don’t belong in a child’s life: credit card offers arriving in your child’s name, unexpected bills or statements, or calls from debt collectors. Because children have clean credit histories, thieves can use their information for years before anyone notices. If any of these show up, pull a credit report immediately — there shouldn’t be one for a child at all.
Why are children targeted for identity theft?
Children are attractive targets because their Social Security numbers are clean, their information is often easy to access, and the theft can go undetected for a decade or more. A child won’t try to open a bank account or apply for a job until they’re a teenager or young adult — giving thieves a very long runway before anyone notices.
What are the first steps if my child’s identity has been stolen?
Start by requesting your child’s credit report from all three major bureaus and ask for a fraud alert to be placed on the file. Get a copy of their Social Security earnings statement to check for misuse. Then file a police report and a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-ID-THEFT. Contact each creditor, submit fraud affidavits, and keep detailed written records of every conversation throughout the process.
How do I protect my child from identity theft before it happens?
Be thoughtful about where your child’s Social Security number is shared — schools, doctors, and camps sometimes request it when they don’t actually need it. You can proactively request a credit freeze for your child at all three major credit bureaus, which prevents anyone from opening credit in their name. Periodically check whether a credit file exists for your child at all, since there shouldn’t be one until they’re adults.
Very important post, thanks. It’s relatively simple to undo if you catch it early.
Unfortunately, sad to say there are a number of parents that have a son (Jr.) with same name and use that for their benefit and not caring what will happen to their child’s credit as they grow up.