How to protect your child from identity theft
Is your child’s personal information protected?
In the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network report, they reported that 4% of identity theft complaints they received in 2020 involved victims aged 19 years and under. That is more than 35,000 reported frauds.
Your child could be a target for fraudsters, so it’s important to protect your child from becoming a victim.
What is child identity theft?
When a thief takes a child’s personal information and uses it to get services or benefits, that’s child identity theft. They can also use the information to commit fraud. Thieves may use your child’s Social Security number, name, or date of birth to apply for health or government benefits, open a bank or credit card account, apply for a loan, or sign up for a utility service.
What to do if your child’s identity is stolen
If you discover your child’s personal information is stolen, you should:
- Report and close the fraudulent accounts. Contact the business or financial institution’s fraud department and ask them to close any accounts. Get written confirmation that the child is not responsible. You should also contact the three credit bureaus and have any fraudulent accounts removed from your child’s credit report.
- Freeze your child’s credit report. You can request a credit freeze on your child’s report if they are under 16 years old. The freeze remains in place until you request the bureaus to remove it.
- File a police report with local law enforcement.
- Report the identity theft. Report your child’s identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission at identitytheft.gov.
How to protect your child’s identity
When protecting your child’s identity, you should:
- Look for red flags. Recognize the signs that your child’s information has been compromised such as bills or credit cards in their name.
- Ask before giving out your child’s Social Security number. Your questions should include how they will protect the information and why they need it.
- Protect any documents. Keep all documents with child’s personal information including medical bills or their Social Security card in a safe and secure place.
- Delete any personal information. Before you get rid of your computer or cell phone, remove any personal information about your child.
- Pay attention to the mail. If you receive any mail like preapproval offers or collection agency letters in your child’s name, investigate it. These could be a red flag.
- Watch your health insurance claims. If you have a questionable claim, it may indicate that your child’s information was used to access benefits.
- Protect your child online. Make sure your child isn’t sharing personal information. As they spend more time on social media and other connected devices, it’s important to talk with your child about staying safe online.
The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with Adirondack Bank. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. Adirondack Bank is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the information provided or the content of any third-party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. Adirondack Bank makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.
