Children are easy target for so many crimes and that includes identity theft. However, with identity theft, because children do not have jobs or a reason to monitor their credit, it could be many years later before you or your child discover the theft. In that amount of time, the thief can damage your child’s credit and employment history as well as develop a criminal record in your child’s name.

I will admit that my husband and I are both a bit paranoid about identity theft for ourselves – to the point that we maintain a permanent freeze on our credit reports and we check our reports often. But how would a parent know if their child’s identity was in jeopardy or how would a grandparent know if a delinquent parent was using their grandchild’s identity? According to the TransUnion website, one of the three credit reporting companies, you should be suspicious of identity theft for your child if one of the following happens:
• Your child begins to receive suspicious mail, like pre-approved credit cards and other financial offers normally sent to adults, in his/her own name.
• You try to open a financial account for him/her but find one already exists, or the application is denied because of a poor credit history.
• A credit report already exists in his/her name. If the child has one, he/she probably has been targeted already, since only an application for credit starts a report.
To learn more about how to investigate if you suspect that your child’s identity has been stolen, check out this page on the TransUnion website :
https://www.transunion.com/corporate/personal/fraudIdentityTheft/fraudPrevention/childIdTheft.page

Meanwhile, I would advise keeping your child’s social security number secure because that is where identity theft begins.

- Think twice about I.D. theft insurance: Some companies also offer identity theft insurance that will cover expenses if you have to straighten out your credit, but realize they will not do the dirty job of restoring your credit — that’s up to you.
 
- Watch that wireless: If you have wireless Internet on your laptop make sure that a password is required to access the Internet. This will help keep your information safe.
 
- Stick with a known ATM: Some of those independent ATMs you see in convenience stores, restaurants and bars may be collecting your data for illegal use. Use ATMs at established banks.
 
- Buy a shredder: Or at least be willing to cut up all envelopes, direct-mail credit applications and receipts that you would typically throw away.

- Beware of phishing, which is a process by which scam artists try and get you to divulge your Social Security Number, your account numbers, address or other personal information under the guise of a legitimate company you may already be doing business with. It’s most common over email and the Internet. Be careful when entering your account information and if you are at all skeptical about a situation, it is best to contact the company.
 
- Keep an eye on your transactions to ensure there are all legitimate. Online account checking makes this easy!
 
- Watch your incoming and outgoing mail. Thieves could grab bills before they leave your mailbox gaining valuable account information. Leaving mail, especially checks mailed to you in a mailbox is not smart.
 
- Make your username and passwords for online account hard to guess. These days your dog, maiden name, or house address is not going to cut it.
 
- Keep an eye on your credit report. See our previous blog on how to check your credit report.