When you think of identity theft victims, you may not think of children. But, many identity thieves view children as easy and desirable targets because of their clean credit history and the possibility of fraud going unnoticed for years.
Child Identity Theft Warning Signs
Many children may not discover their identities have been compromised until they apply for their first credit cards, but there are warning signs parents can look out for.
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Pre-approved credit and loan offers addressed to your child
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Calls or notices from collection agencies in your child’s name
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Court notices for unpaid bills or parking tickets for your child
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Denial of a bank account, driver’s license or government benefits because the Social Security Number (SSN) has already been used
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Calls from the IRS saying your child hasn’t paid income tax
What to Do If Your Child is an Identity Theft Victim
If you believe your child’s identity has been compromised, you can take steps to minimize the damage.
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Contact each credit reporting company – TransUnion, Experian and Equifax – and ask them to remove all accounts and collection notices associated with your child’s SSN
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Have one of the credit agencies put a fraud alert on the file
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Report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and local authorities
Preventing Child Identity Theft
Take proactive steps to prevent your child’s identify from being stolen.
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Pay attention and keep an eye out for warning signs, then act quickly if you have any suspicions
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Be selective about giving out your child’s Social Security Number (SSN)
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Secure all documents containing your child’s personal information – such as their birth certificate and Social Security card
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Invest in professional identity theft monitoring, protection counseling and restoration services
Contact Crime Prevention Security Systems to learn more about child identity theft and identity theft monitoring, protection counseling and restoration from ID Shield.
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