Many consumers are warned against the threat of identity theft and are advised to take all the necessary precautions to protect their personal information.  But did you know that adults are not the only people are at risk?  Yes, even children are threatened by the crime of ID theft.

In fact, according to Experian, a major credit bureau, an estimated 500,000 cases of identity theft among children are reported each year.  If you are a parent, you should definitely be aware of this fact and take all preventive measures to safeguard your child’s personal information.

For instance, can identity theft can steal a child’s Social Security number and use it on fraudulent transactions.  Parents usually register SSN for their child and use this number for various purposes such as when applying for government benefits; obtaining medical coverage; investing on savings bonds; or opening a bank account for their child.

However, Social Security Numbers that belong to kids can be the perfect target for id thieves.  Since children do not have credit history yet, it is much easier for them to use a child’s SSN on fraudulent activities without getting caught right away.  If left unchecked, this can cause problems later on when your child is ready to open his/her own bank account or apply for a job.  What can you do to prevent this from happening?

Consider the following tips on how you can protect your child’s identity:

Be cautious when providing your child’s SSN.  When applying for government services for your child or claiming tax deductions for your children, you will be asked to provide their SSN.  However, you should always know how this information will be used before giving it to any company.

Shred unwanted documents that contain personal information.  Before discarding documents, see to it that these do not contain personal information about you or your child.  If a document contains your child’s SSN or other personal details, shred it into bits before throwing them in the trash.

Sign up for identity theft protection service.  There are companies that offer monitoring services especially for children’s Social Security numbers.  Signing up for such a program can help you become alerted in case someone uses your child’s SSN illegally.

Educate your child.  Parents should teach their children about identity theft and give them specific advice on how they can protect themselves, especially when using the internet.  Many children today have their own accounts in Facebook, Twitter and other social networking websites.

Children should be aware that all the information they post online can be seen by anyone or hacked by identity thieves so they should be more careful about the things they post on the internet.  Furthermore, kids should be advised not to reveal personal information to anyone without first asking their parents especially over the internet.

Report ID theft.  If you suspect that your child’s Social Security Number has been stolen or your child’s identity has been compromised, you should immediately file a complaint with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission).  You can do so online at www.consumer.gov/idtheft or over the phone through these numbers: 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338); or TTY—1-866-653-4261.

About the Author
Melanie Mathis is a credit analyst and a writer for 8 years. She has been participating in the programs of http://www.newhorizon.org such as their continuous effort in giving out Free Credit Repair and Building Ebook. NHBS also has a list of recommended Unsecured Credit Cards for Bad Credit

About Melanie Mathis

Melanie Mathis is a credit analyst and a writer for 8 years. She has been participating in the programs of NHBS, Inc such as their continuous effort in giving out Free Credit Repair and Building Ebook. Connect with Melanie Mathis on Google+

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