Children: Unaware Victims

Imagine being in major debt before you can even vote. Such is the case for more than 400,000 children every year, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Although they account for only 5 percent of the total number of annual identity theft complaints, their number has climbed by 2 percent over the last two years. The actual number of child victims of identity theft may be even higher, since most parents don’t check their children’s credit histories. The Federal Trade Commission says that 61 percent of all identity thefts go unreported.

Since kids don’t have credit cards, mortgages, car payments, or anything else containing their personal information that could be shared with strangers, it might seem impossible for someone to steal their identity. However, what children do have is a Social Security number. It is feasible that an identity thief could use anyone’s number with a fake name, address, and even age. Unfortunately, many credit issuers do not have the means to verify age.

 Unaware Victims

Children are the ideal victims since it can be years before they or their parents realize the crime has been committed. Most only realize that they’ve been victimized later in life when they apply for their first credit card or a college loan, or undergo a credit check for their first apartment and are denied. Sometimes the perpetrators are estranged parents or relatives who have had previous access to vital information. The damage can take years to correct even if the victim is not liable.

There are seven simple steps to take to keep a child’s identity safe.

  1. Only disclose information if you know how it will be used.
  2. Shred any documents that bear his or her Social Security number.
  3. Ask your bank to require a photo ID and password for information.
  4. Get an annual credit report for your child.
  5. Check for credit card offerings made in the child’s name with the three major credit bureaus.
  6. Check for an earnings report in the child’s name from the Social Security Administration.
  7. Always file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission if something is wrong.

The Identity Theft Resource Center has a good section on child victims of identity theft at http://www.idtheftcenter.org/artman2/publish/v_fact_sheets/Fact_Sheet_120.shtml.

For more information on identity theft, go to www.ftc.gov and click on Identity Theft. The FTC has the Deter, Detect, Defend campaign to counter identity theft. Also, go to www.ncpc.org for more information or to read a PDF version of NCPC’s publication, Preventing Identity Theft: A Guide for Consumers, which you can also order by calling 800-627-2911 or going online to the NCPC Fulfillment Center at ncpc@fulfills.org.

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