Keep your kids safe from ID Theft



Parents have a host of tools, resources and routines to keep children safe: Use the buddy system. Don’t take candy from strangers. Never tell a caller you’re home alone.

But what if the stranger is someone your child will never actually see? Identity theft isn’t just a crime that affects adults. In fact, Federal Trade Commission statistics show 5 percent of identity theft victims are under 18, a percentage that’s swiftly on the rise. Perpetrators target children because it can take years or decades – oftentimes not until a person applies for a job or credit card - before the crime is discovered.

While you might not like to think of your children as grownups, you need to treat them like adults when it comes to protecting them from identity theft.

Other important steps to take include:

Question Authority. If a doctor, school, or other organization asks for a copy of a birth certificate or Social Security card, make sure it is necessary, and ask how the information will be used and stored.

Leave pickpockets empty-handed. Don’t carry Social Security numbers or cards in your wallet. If health insurance cards display personal numbers on them, make a copy and cut off the last four digits.

Rip it, then pitch it. Before throwing away documents that contain account or Social Security numbers, run them through a shredder.

If in doubt, don’t. Teach children to avoid giving personal information over the phone or internet. When you do, verify the business is legitimate. Check with the Better Business Bureau for reassurance.

Protect your PC. Keep up on security updates and software upgrades. Watch your child’s e-mail accounts, and don’t allow them to install programs without your assistance.

Monitor your mail. The little red flag on your home mailbox is a green light for thieves. Don’t put outbound mail in unlocked mailboxes. Credit card offers for your child could signal that your child’s information is being used elsewhere.