HOW TO AVOID CHILD IDENTITY THEFT
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by: lissaseguin
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Word Count: 447
Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 Time: 1:08 PM
A useful guide to keep the ones we most love safe
Identity theft is a fraud crime that affects thousands of Americans every day. At the beginning, only the very rich and famous were sought after by scammers and fraudsters that were behind their fame and money but nowadays everybody can wake up one morning and realize that they have been robbed of their identity. In fact, what is even more puzzling is that even children have been lately reported as victims of such a hideous crime. Fortunately, parents can take some steps to avoid child identity theft.
Step 1: Keep Your Child’s Information Private
You probably know that your Social Security Number is extremely valuable for scammers and fraudsters as it allows them to apply for loans or open bank accounts. Your child’s Social Security Number is even more valuable for them as they can be sure that your child’s financial record is perfect and they will be able to take advantage of it without any problem. This is why you are advised to keep your children’s Social Security Card in a safe place and avoid sharing its number with strangers. Needless to say, you should never carry your son’s or daughter’s Social Security Card in your purse or wallet unless you are sure you are going to need it. If your purse gets lost or stolen, the thief will not only have access to your money but to your children’s most important information.
Step 2: Ask for a Credit Report
Parents are advised to ask any of the nationwide credit report agencies for a credit report on behalf of their children. If they do not receive any, it means that their son’s or daughter’s identity is safe but if they do, they should be ready to take any measure to help him or her win back his or her identity. A first step is to report the credit agencies and contact a lawyer to help out in the process. You should bear in mind that you do not need to report all the three agencies that somebody has stolen your child’s identity; you can contact only one of them and you can rest assured that they will all be notified almost instantly.
Step 3: Instruct Your Children
Talk to your son or daughter about the dangers of sharing personal information over the Internet and have a vigilant attitude whenever they are chatting, surfing on any social network or sending emails. Make sure they know who they are talking to and that they never share pictures or personal data through their instant messenger.
About the Author
Lissa writing about Identity Theft Protection
